A CAMPAIGN group set to up to battle proposed changes to Kidderminster Library’s gallery have vowed to keep fighting, despite the plans being given the go-ahead - by just one vote.

Worcestershire County Council’s planning and regulatory committee voted to move the library’s top-floor gallery to the first floor of the building at its meeting yesterday, by seven votes to six.

The authority needs to save £1.8 million of the libraries and learning budget and the plans would also see the gallery’s Steinway piano moved to the Kidderminster Town Hall or Corn Exchange.

The county council wants to make way for offices for its staff but members of the Kidderminster Gallery Friends fear it could “alienate” the arts community.

They have been campaigning for months in a bid to stop the proposals going ahead and have been left angered that they were put through.

Stephen Brown, secretary of the group, slammed the meeting as a “travesty of justice”.

“It leaves a sour taste in your mouth,” he said. “The only positive thing is that it wasn’t a unanimous vote. We don’t accept at this stage that the fight is over.

“What it’s done is completely alienate the arts community and the wider community of Wyre Forest.”

He added: “We are now considering our options. We’re not ruling anything out, including taking legal action.”

The county council said the changes would save £206,000 a year as staff would be relocated from Elgar House.

It claimed the move would also help secure the future of Kidderminster Library by contributing to the overall savings target of the libraries and learning service.

Conservative John Campion, the county council's cabinet member with responsibility for the libraries and learning service, said: "Throughout this process we have recognised this has been a controversial issue and have listened to everyone's concerns.

“As I have said before, it has been heartening to see so many people come out and display their passion for their local library service and gallery.

“We hope that, in the long term, people will see that these small changes will actually help to save the library and keep the art and gallery space for people to use and enjoy in the future.”

He said the savings needed to be made, adding: “The compromises we have reached will help ensure we all continue to enjoy a comprehensive local library service."