Alarmed orchestras and drama groups have voiced a chorus of disapproval against plans to scale back Cornwall's only performing arts library as part of a multi-million pound savings drive.

The artistic community has joined forces to fight "disastrous plans" by Cornwall Council to cut services at the Performing Arts Library in St Austell.

Faced with challenging multi-million budget savings, the authority is considering a variety of options for the facility, including cutting weekly staff hours from 64 to just 18, dispersing stock around the county and relocating the facility to a warehouse near Truro, where the materials could be available by appointment only.

Chris Hansell, secretary of Cornwall Drama Association, said the county had a rich performing arts scene which heavily relied on the library to borrow new scripts, music, choral pieces and technical books.

He said: "This library is the only one of its kind in Cornwall and provides a valuable resource for all the performing arts within the county. Our members are extremely upset and we can't understand why – the council cannot be saving very much money by these proposals.

"Cornwall has a rich culture of performing arts and, without the support of the Performing Arts Library, many of the groups will find it difficult to continue. It is vital to be able to read new plays and music before deciding what to perform.

"Our fear is that they will move it, make it difficult to access and then claim that no one is using it and shut it down. This is the thin end of the wedge."

Mary Wittamore, 57, from Lostwithiel, who worked at the performing arts library for a decade, said: "There's huge opposition. Most of the choirs and orchestras are busy e-mailing all their members.

"It's just beginning to come to light just how many people benefit from the service. People even come to pick pieces of music for weddings and funerals."

Councillor Steve Double, cabinet support member responsible for libraries, said there were no plans to close the library but savings of £1.5 million had to be found in the next two years.

He said: "I'm aware there are very strong feelings in the performing arts community. My hope is there will be minimum impact on the service.

We all know the times we're living in and we have to make priorities."

Council members will be updated on the latest position at a meeting of Thursday's scrutiny and overview committee and a decision is expected in the autumn.