Ibstock Library looks set to close to the public for good.

Leicestershire County Council cabinet members are "recommended" to approve the permanent closure of the Melbourne Road library at a meeting later this week.

The library was run by a volunteer group, opening for seven hours a week over three days.

However, group members told the council in September last year they could not continue in their roles.

The council launched a consultation into the future of the library, seeking expressions of interest from any groups which might want to step up and fill the void.

It admitted at the time that, if no viable alternative could be found, the library may have to close.

The volunteers handed back their keys at the end of March with the library temporarily shutting to those who use it.

A "mobile library" has been visiting Ibstock once a week instead, the authority said.

A council agenda now reveals no suitable replacement groups have been found to run the centre, and the closure is likely to become permanent. Two expressions of interest had been received during the consultation.

One group had simply "intended to show support for the library, rather than proposing to run the library". Their submission was subsequently withdrawn.

The other group's offer to take on the role has now been rejected.

Leicestershire County Council said there were "sustainability concerns" with the main worries being financial in nature – the group was not able to show sufficient income to cover the operating costs of the library.

During the public consultation, residents were asked for their opinions on alternative forms of provision for the local areas.

These included the book bus and the use of other libraries nearby. The council received 21 responses.

Most (55 per cent) said they used the library weekly. Half said they also used Coalville's library which is the nearest alternative for the village, with 31 per cent saying they only used Ibstock.

When asked about what alternate provision they would use if the Ibstock service closed, three quarters said they would just go elsewhere. They were more unsure about the mobile offering, with 44 per cent saying they were undecided over whether they would use it or not, 33 per cent saying they would use it and 22 per cent saying they would not.

If cabinet members approve the permanent closure of the library, they are also recommended to give the official go-ahead for the mobile service to continue. However, it would be a three-weekly service, rather than the current weekly visit. This would be reviewed in six months time to see if improvements could be made, the council said.

Coalville Library is able to cope with additional users, the authority added. It is open 56 hours a week and is around four miles from Ibstock, the council said.

The Ibstock Library space would be emptied, although Ibstock Junior School would continue to use the other half of the building. Future use of the empty space would be considered by the council in due course.

Councillor Christine Radford, county council cabinet member for libraries, said: "While we did receive a registration of interest to run the library, after careful consideration of the proposal, we were unable to take it forward. I want to thank the trustees and volunteers at Ibstock for their sterling work in the past few years. They have done a fantastic job. 

"Reluctantly and given that there isn't a group able to take over the running of the library, we're being asked to consider the proposal to close the library and put in place alternative library provision. We'll discuss the proposal at our Cabinet meeting on Friday (24th May)."