The Save Highbridge Library campaign has this week said Somerset County Council has “disturbed a hornet’s nest of anger and discontent” in proposing cutbacks to the library services across the area.
The comments come after Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here that Burnham and Highbridge residents will have an extra seven weeks to share their views on the County Council’s proposals for the town’s library as consultation has been extended.
However, Dave Chapple, from the Save Highbridge Library campaign and who is also Bridgwater TUC secretary, said on Saturday: “The decision to extend the consultation is, in my view, because the SCC Conservative ruling group realise they have disturbed a hornet’s nest of anger and discontent in many Conservative areas of the county.”
He added: “We are doing all we can to save the library, but to be specific an actual petition, combined with an on-line petition to save the library with a programme of street stalls to educate the Highbridge public and allow them to sign the petition. We are also placing copies of the petition in shops, supermarkets, schools, anywhere that will have them!”
“A special campaign survey, far more positive than the SCC consultation, is planned which no-one apart from the Conservative County Councillors believes will make any difference to final decisions whatsoever. This we are currently printing and will be delivering to every house in Highbridge and its surrounding villages,and which will have a freepost return facility to maximise the responses.”
“We are also working with Churchfield School in a unique collaboration that I have not seen before as a community activist in Somerset for over 40 years.”
“We are prepared to lobby any council meting to argue for support, whether County Council or County Executive, Sedgemoor District Council, parish or town council.”
“We have held one public meeting and in the next few months will hold more when there is a need to explain in some detail or discuss campaign developments with Highbridge and the villages, for example the Huntspills, Watchfield and Mark.”
“We are also planning a major social in the early summer with celebrity guests, speakers and performers: watch this space!”
He added that “flash” showings of the group’s already much-travelled banner will proceed at key road junctions and supermarkets in the Highbridge and Burnham-On-Sea area.
The closing date for the consultation has been extended from Sunday 22 April to Wednesday 13 June after the council says it “listened to feedback from the public, partners, Councillors and communities.”
Following today’s decision, the additional information and updated questionnaire will be available online here or in all Somerset libraries from Wednesday 21st March.
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.
Councillor David Hall, Cabinet Member for Resources and Economic Development at Somerset County Council, says it has extended the consultation in response to a number of requests. Further information on what a ‘Community Library Partnership’ and ‘Library Outreach Services’ could mean for library users is also now available.
The council has also updated its questionnaire so that it is now based on the library that respondents visit most often (rather than an area). Extra detail has also been added to the proposals.
Cllr David Hall said: “Thank you to all those who have responded so far – that feedback has been recorded and will be taken into account.”
“It’s important to us and it’s important to you that we make our library service sustainable for the future. You said you wanted more time to consider the proposals, more information and we have listened.”
“We will make decisions only when we are confident we have as detailed a picture as possible on how our proposals could affect you, your family and your community. Giving you more information and more time will help both you and us achieve this.”
