A last-minute campaign has been launched to prevent the closure of three libraries in North Somerset, amid growing concerns from parish councils about the impact on rural communities. The libraries in Pill, Winscombe, and Worle face potential shutdown following a council decision to cut library funding by 20%.
Earlier this year, North Somerset Council voted to reduce its libraries budget by £433,000 over two years, proposing shorter opening hours and the possible closure or community takeover of the three local libraries. However, two Green Party councillors, Joe Tristram (Banwell and Winscombe) and Jenna Ho Marris (Pill), have put forward a new plan aimed at preserving these vital services by distributing the required savings more evenly across the library network.
Speaking at a full council meeting on November 11, Tristram revealed his change of heart regarding Winscombe Library. Initially supportive of the cuts and potential handover to local authorities, he now recognizes the essential role these libraries play. “I no longer believe we should withdraw funding,” he stated. “It is crucial to maintain support for Winscombe and the other libraries.”
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Council leader Mike Bell acknowledged the council’s openness to alternative proposals but emphasized budget constraints. “We must ensure any plan is realistic, achievable within the timeframe, and meets the necessary savings targets,” Bell noted.
The meeting also featured strong testimonials from local parish councils. Archie Forbes, chair of Winscombe and Sandford Parish Council, highlighted the library’s role as a community hub combating loneliness and social isolation through its warm environment and essential services like computer access and printing. Forbes warned that closure risks deepening rural inequalities and stressed that mobile library services cannot replace the full range of local offerings.
Steve Voller, chair of Banwell Parish Council, reinforced these concerns, noting that Winscombe Library serves multiple rural communities and is the closest physical library for many residents. He commented on the difficulties faced by those without private transport, for whom traveling to Weston-super-Mare is impractical. Voller recalled assurances from the council after the Banwell library closure in 2012, promising focused support for Winscombe. He cautioned that the steady erosion of rural services amounts to a “death by a thousand cuts.”
Former council leader Don Davies has recently added his voice to the campaign to save Pill Library and Children’s Centre, while community activism continues with over 1,000 signatures collected in a petition to protect Worle Library and Children’s Centre.
The debate highlights the delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and preserving vital community resources, especially in rural areas facing service reductions.