Hopes that Highbridge Library can be saved from closure have been boosted this week after 15 volunteers came forward to offer their help in running the service following an appeal by town councillor Chris Williams.
It comes as Somerset County Council this week announced the library in Market Street will be shut on October 1st unless volunteers can be found to operate it.
Burnham-On-Sea.com learns that 15 people have contacted the town council to offer their help since Cllr Chris Williams’ appeal was first published here.
Chris, pictured below, said on Thursday: “It’s very encouraging that so many people have come forward to offer their help. We will be contacting the County Council very shortly to discuss how we take this forward.”
“Often, the devil is in the detail and we want to fully understand all the costs before we commit anyone, but this is a promising step forward.”
He added: “I was appalled by the County Council’s suggestion of closure, particularly as the ward is one of the most deficient socially and economically in the whole of Somerset.”
Highbridge councillor Cllr Joe Leach also welcomed the news and said he was “very disappointed” at the County Council’s announcement on Wednesday that the library would close in October if volunteers could not be found.
The library was last year placed on a hit list of 20 libraries across Somerset which the County Council wants to wind down as part of a £75million cost-cutting exercise.
Any Highbridge residents who can help the library are asked to contact the Town Clerk’s office on 01278 788088 to express their interest.
