Campaigners fighting to save Highbridge Library from closure are pushing forward with plans to create a new community charitable trust to run the premises.
The new trust will be formed if a judicial review into Somerset County Council’s decision to withdraw funding from 11 libraries – including Highbridge’s – does not reverse the closures.
Highbridge town councillor Helen Groves, pictured, told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “We are awaiting the decision of the judicial review prior to any final decision by the Town Council.”
“In the interim, though, we are continuing to assess the viability of supporting the library via a community charitable trust.”
“Should the judicial review fail, the only manner in which the Town Council could support the provision of a library service would be via such an organisation.”
“This is because the Town Council cannot use the ‘powers of wellbeing’ to run it.”
“Meanwhile, we are still seeking volunteers both to run the library and to potentially serve on its board.”
“We are also hoping to hold a meeting to update volunteers at the library itself once the outcome of the review is known.”
Proposals to form the new trust were first raised in August at a public meeting in Burnham Town Council’s chambers, as we reported here.
The recent three-day judicial review hearing saw the High Court examine the legality of the cuts. It heard that councils in Somerset and Gloucestershire may have broken the 1964 Museums Act which states that a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service must be provided.
