Somerset County Council has laid out a plan to hack 25 per cent (£1.35m) off the council’s libraries budget, which is likely to result in as many at 20 local libraries closing in the next 12 months along with the loss of four of the fleet of six mobile libraries.
Ben Hartshorn, South Somerset Green Party local contact, told the PRSD: “The council’s proposal says that ‘Somerset’s libraries must save money’ as if this is the only option. But it isn’t. Raising Council Tax instead of the current freeze would be enough to keep these libraries open (and protect our recycling centres and arts funding).
“The county council’s proposal is regressive, harking back to a time when only the wealthy could afford access to books and information, by suggesting a ‘community-supported’ model, where local people pay for access to their local library. We already pay, though, through our Council Tax – so that’s a double whammy! When are they going to announce a 25 per cent cut in councillors’ expenses?
The libraries most likely to close are:
Glastonbury
Cheddar
Somerton
Ilminster
Martock
Shepton Mallet
Bishop’s Lydeard
Bruton
Castle Cary
Dulverton
Highbridge
Milborne Port
Nether Stowey
North Petherton
Porlock
Priorswood
South Petherton
Sunningdale
Watchet
Wiveliscombe
If you live in Dulverton, your nearest library will be in Minehead, a 40-mile round trip to borrow a book.
Somerset County Council is running an online survey where Somerset residents can give their views.
Ben said: “This decision to close libraries was prompted by the report into public sector reform published by KPMG, a consultancy that stands to gain more than most from farming out public services to the private sector.
“It is an ideological decision – the Conservative County Council are opposed to publicly-owned and run services. It is a decision, though, that will take us further away from the society the Green Party wants to see in the future.
“Libraries are important for learning and building human potential, needed more than ever in today’s economy. Abandoning those values will harm the most disadvantaged, those who will benefit most from free access to books.”
(from a press release)
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