Campaign launched to save village library

Residents have formed Friends of Pill Library to help keep the service open

A community has launched a campaign to save its village library, which is under threat of closure.

North Somerset Council is currently running a consultation on the future of library services as it tries to find ways to cut £433,000 from its libraries budget. It could lead to the closure of Worle Library, and the facilities in Pill and Winscombe.

Abi Murray, a member of Friends of Pill Library, said her six-year-old son "likes to get his maximum of twenty books" from the library every week, adding: "He's not the most natural reader, so having that turnover of books really encourages him."

The council said: "This is still in consultation stage and we have made absolutely no decision yet."

Abi Murray said her six-year-old son borrows books from Pill Library every week

Ms Murray said she had been using the facility ever since her son was born and it has encouraged his reading.

"I don't think it would be the same if it was the few books we've got at home week in, week out."

If Pill Library were to close, the nearest options would be Portishead or Bristol - both about five miles (8km) away. Ms Murray said it would be "very unlikely" they would travel to borrow books.

The council's consultation documents acknowledge that "community need could be considered high" in Pill, which is one of the more deprived areas of north Somerset.

While closing the library would save the council about £28,000 a year, a significant portion of those savings would likely have to be spent on providing outreach services elsewhere.

Don Davies was the leader of North Somerset Council for three years until he stood down in 2022.

He is now working with Friends of Pill Library, and said: "I understand savings have to be made but it's a vital part of the community, not only for readers, it's also a warm space and gives access to computers."

'A terrible idea'

In Winscombe, where the library is also under threat, more than 40 people turned out for a meeting to discuss the proposals.

"Everyone I talk to thinks it's a terrible idea", said Joe Tristram, councillor for Banwell and Winscombe.

One option being considered is for libraries to be transferred to local communities, and run by volunteers, with the parish council increasing its precept so people locally pay for the service.

Tristram said: "It's very clear that it wouldn't be the same if it were run by the parish council."

Stark Holborn, a local author, described proposals to close libraries as "hugely short-sighted".

"To close it, especially in a time that a lot of people can't necessarily afford to get to their next library, is saying 'well we don't really care about you having access to books and to reading'," she added.

Over the summer, the government announced that 2026 would be a National Year of Reading, described as "a country-wide initiative to encourage children and adults to read for pleasure and address declining reading trends".

North Somerset Council said: "All we know is that we need to save more than £400,000 and there has to be ways of saving that."

The 12-week public consultation opened on 31 July and runs until 24 October.