Thousands of residents have voiced their opinions on which village library should be preserved as North Somerset Council moves forward with significant budget cuts. The council plans to reduce its libraries budget by 20% in 2024, aiming to save £433,000 annually. This includes cutting hours across the service and potentially withdrawing funding entirely from three libraries: Pill, Winscombe, and Worle.
A public consultation invited residents to choose from three options: option A to cut funding for both Pill and Winscombe libraries; option B to save Pill Library; and option C to save Winscombe Library. Worle Library was excluded from the options due to costly issues with wet rot and damp that the council cannot afford to repair.
The consultation drew 4,912 responses, including 500 from children. Notably, local schoolchildren and the MP for Weston-super-Mare, Dan Aldridge, also submitted letters highlighting the importance of these community hubs. Option B, saving Pill Library, received the most support at 48%, while option A was backed by 45%, and option C by 41%. Approximately 1,000 respondents did not select any option.
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The council has released these results but has yet to make a final decision. Recommendations will be reviewed alongside equalities impact assessments by the council cabinet and full council in February.
Local leaders have applauded the strong support for Pill Library. Pill and Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council emphasized that the community’s overwhelming backing sends a clear message about the library’s vital role. They urged the council to honor this public feedback in its decision-making process.
Friends of Pill Library highlighted the facility’s extensive community role, hosting over 100 events annually, offering free IT access, and serving as a warm, safe space in one of North Somerset’s more deprived areas outside Weston-super-Mare. They called on the council to maintain funding for the library.
Even if libraries lose council funding, closures are not necessarily imminent. North Somerset Council intends to explore transferring operations to community groups, allowing libraries to remain part of the network. Congresbury’s library has successfully operated under community management since 2012.
Mike Solomon, cabinet member for culture, community services, and safety, acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions but reiterated the council’s commitment to maintaining a fair, accessible, and sustainable library service. He stressed that community collaboration will keep libraries vibrant and welcoming.
Comments from the consultation underscored concerns about the impact on rural communities and children. Many noted the essential roles libraries play in literacy, education, digital inclusion, and providing safe spaces. Among child respondents, 59% said they would lose independent access to a library if their closest branch closed, expressing sadness and frustration.
Following the consultation, Green councillors representing Winscombe and Pill proposed a new “option D” to avoid any library closures by spreading cuts more evenly across the service. Joe Tristram and Jenna Ho Marris warned against a gradual decline of rural services, recalling past promises to support Winscombe after Banwell library’s closure in 2012.
As North Somerset Council prepares to make its decision, the community’s strong engagement highlights the priceless value residents place on their libraries and their desire to protect these vital local resources.