Worle Library is on the brink of closure after a building inspection revealed extensive wet rot and damp issues in the facility it was moved into eight years ago. In 2017, North Somerset Council relocated the library from its purpose-built 1960s home on The Maltings to a former school building on Mendip Avenue, over 100 years old, to share space with Worle Children’s Centre and reduce expenses.
However, the century-old building’s deteriorating condition has forced the council to reconsider the library’s future. North Somerset Council stated that it “cannot afford the significant costs required to repair and maintain the building.”
Local historian and former Weston College lecturer Raye Green, 79, who led a campaign against the 2017 relocation, expressed her concerns about the move’s impact. “It was a nice building, it was easy for people to access,” she said. “They closed that and gave us a corner of one classroom of what had been the old infant school. The result was that people gave up going. There are only a few regular visitors left.”
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Now, Worle Library is one of three libraries identified as highly likely to close under proposed council budget cuts, alongside Pill and Winscombe libraries. While one of the latter two might stay open with deeper cuts elsewhere, Worle Library’s closure appears certain. A public consultation on these plans runs until October 24.
According to the consultation documents, a February 2025 defect survey uncovered “extensive wet rot and damp penetration” in a back office area currently unusable to staff. Although temporary measures have addressed immediate health and safety concerns, more substantial repairs are needed to fix the structural damage.
Ms. Green hopes the community will rally to find a new home for the library. “Now they’ve got plans to cut what’s left of the library, I’m hoping the community will fight again for another victory,” she said. The council has suggested that closed libraries could be taken over and managed by local groups, a model already used in Congresbury since 2017.
Worle’s long history with libraries dates back to the 1880s, beginning with a collection founded by Captain and Mrs. Batiscombe at the manor house. Since then, the library has moved locations multiple times, with the modern building on The Maltings opening in 1969. The current Mendip Avenue site was originally built in 1901 as the infant school before becoming part of the children’s centre and then the library.
Council cabinet member for culture, leisure, and outdoor spaces Mike Solomon emphasized the council’s commitment to maintaining accessible library services despite budget constraints. “We recognise that our libraries are very much loved and at the heart of communities,” he said. “We aim to provide a service that is fair, accessible, and future-proof while meeting our £433,000 savings target.”
The council plans to make total savings of £44 million over the next three years to balance its budget. A decisive vote on library budget cuts is scheduled for February 2026, with possible implementation between summer 2026 and September 2028.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the consultation to ensure their views are heard. “By responding, residents can help us understand community needs and how best these can be met within available resources,” said Cllr Solomon. The consultation remains open until noon on Friday, October 24.