Residents in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge have this week urged Somerset County Council Leader Ken Maddock to re-think his decision to close the town’s Library.
In recent consultations with libraries across the county, nine were declared to be saved including Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet. However, Highbridge Library was not given a reprieve as the County Council claims it cannot afford to keep the facilities and others like it open.
Lib Dem Cllr Joe Leach told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am disappointed that Somerset County Council haven’t recognised the need for the library in Highbridge. It is tragic that they are considering closing Libraries at all across Somerset, but in an area where so much has been lost already, they are prepared to truly rip the heart out of our town.”
Local campaigner Tom Nicholls added: “I’m frustrated that the council continues to ignore the Secretary of State’s advice that library closures are not necessary. I, and others, will continue to fight to keep this vital resource open as I cannot see any justification for it’s closure as the amount saved from doing so is next to nothing.”
Recently, Cllr Leach sent a letter to Eric Pickles MP, calling on him to personally step-in to stop the closures as doing so breaks Government guidelines. No response has been received so far.
Pictured are Burnham and Highbridge Liberal Democrats outside Highbridge Library on Wednesday
