North Somerset Council is grappling with worsening financial pressures, planning to slash an additional £50,000 from its library budget—before final decisions on current library closures have even been made.
Last year, the council already reduced library funding by £433,000, about 20%, endangering three libraries in the area. This move sparked widespread concern. Weston-super-Mare’s MP, local schoolchildren, authors, and a retired former council leader have all voiced strong opposition to losing these vital community hubs.
Just two weeks ago, the council revealed which libraries might close and which could remain open. Yet, ahead of councillor approval, new budget balancing efforts propose further cuts—specifically targeting library hours—to address a projected £2.4 million shortfall in the 2026/27 budget.
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The government has allowed North Somerset an exceptional 8.99% council tax rise to ease financial strain. Still, escalating social care costs combined with decreased government funding have left few options to avoid tough choices.
Among a series of quick proposals to save £2.68 million next year, cutting a further £50,000 by reducing library opening times is included. These reductions would primarily take effect in 2027/28 when funding gaps are expected to deepen.
A North Somerset Council spokesperson said: “Additional savings across the council will be needed beyond those already identified so that we can set a balanced budget for future financial years. Any savings will be carefully considered with community needs in mind and will undergo an Equalities Impact Assessment to understand and minimize effects on residents.”
Council members will vote on these budget proposals, including the library funding cuts and proposed council tax increase, at a full meeting scheduled for February 24 at Weston-super-Mare Town Hall.
Regarding closures, Worle Library is proposed to close on September 7, and Winscombe Library by March 2027 unless a community group steps in to manage it. Pill Library, once threatened, is now set to stay open following a public consultation that drew over 5,000 responses. To protect Pill, further reductions to opening hours at other sites are planned.
The council’s decisions will have profound impacts on community access to library services as financial challenges continue to mount.