Councillor Catherine Gibbons, deputy leader of North Somerset Council and representative for Milton on Weston-super-Mare Town Council, has addressed conflicting claims regarding her stance on the closure of Worle Library.
Ms Gibbons, a Labour councillor, has been actively involved in efforts to save the local library, which closed its doors on 7 September. Despite being part of the North Somerset Council administration that initially proposed the closure plan - approved by full council in February - she emphasized that she never supported shutting the library but rather accepted the difficult decision due to the building’s condition.
The library, which relocated in 2017 from a purpose-built facility on the Maltings to a century-old former school building on Mendip Avenue, was found to suffer from extensive wet rot and damp, rendering repairs financially unviable. This move in 2017 was a cost-cutting measure enacted by the then Conservative-controlled council.
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Speaking at a recent council meeting, Ms Gibbons acknowledged the challenging circumstances, explaining: “If we had a building that was fit for purpose, we could have pursued a community library through the town council’s devolution programme - which is why I approached Weston Town Council to explore this option.”
She further stated, “Nobody who knows me would think I would consider closing a library ideal, especially given the importance of reading for young people. We had no choice; it is not an ideal situation, and if any other alternative existed, I would have chosen it.”
The closure forms part of a 20% reduction in North Somerset Council’s libraries budget, initially agreed by councillors earlier this year. Alongside Worle, Pill and Winscombe libraries were also proposed for closure. The council decided to keep Pill Library open by reducing opening hours elsewhere, while Winscombe Library is set to close at the end of March 2027. Worle Library’s closure was deemed necessary due to the building’s condition, precluding options to keep it open.
Since the closure decision, Ms Gibbons has campaigned to establish a community-run library in Worle, operated by Weston-super-Mare Town Council, at a nearby location.
Following a recent exchange with Conservative opposition leader Michael Pryke, who questioned her apparent contradictory positions at the two councils, Ms Gibbons posted on Facebook: “My record on this is clear. It is encouraging to see shared enthusiasm for a community library in Worle. I hope we can set aside politics and collaborate to make this a reality.”