Protesters against the possible closure of Highbridge Library took their campaign to Shire Hall in Taunton on Wednesday (February 21st) where county councillors were setting their budgets for the coming year.

The ‘Save Highbridge Library’ group held a campaign banner and waved flags outside the meeting with around 30 union members.

They discussed their concerns for the library with county councillors as they arrived for the meeting. Among them was former Lib Dem MP for Burnham and Highbridge, Tessa Munt, who supports the campaign to save the libary.

One of the protesters, Sheila Forrester from Highbridge, said outside the meeting: “Some people can’t get to another library as they haven’t got the money to do so. Highbridge needs a library – it’s only open part-time and it isn’t going to be a big saving to the council to shut it.”

“It is an area of deprivation with the second highest deprivation in the country, so it has a good case.”

As first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com, Somerset County Council says Highbridge Library could close under its cost-cutting proposals unless local volunteers are found to keep it open.

A report considered by county councillors says the cutbacks are expected to deliver between £300,000 and £520,000 of annual savings across Somerset.

Somerset County Council says that Highbridge Library has a catchment population of 6,786 people, but it has just 288 active borrowers, and an annual footfall of 3,786 people. The council’s consultation on the future of how its library services can be accessed is online at: www.somerset.gov.uk/librariesconsultation.

Pictured: The protest in Taunton on Wednesday (photos Andy Mitchell)

 
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