Protestors picket Somerset councillors outside cuts meeting

More than 30 people from sports clubs in Yeovil attended the council meeting

Dozens of protestors gathered outside a Somerset Council meeting where £35m of cuts were discussed.

More than 30 people held a large banner outside Deane House, in Taunton, as councillors arrived.

The Liberal Democrat-led council is proposing pulling funding from Yeovil Recreation Centre to save money.

Somerset Council's executive committee voted through its 2024/25 budget proposals and said it was in an "unprecedented position".

The proposals will continue to be developed before a final budget vote on 20 February.

The government announced local councils in England will have £64bn to spend next year - assuming they all raise council tax by the maximum amount. Ministers argue this represents a 6.5% rise on this year and will account for rises in inflation.

The government says it is open to talks with councils with financial issues.

Ann Whistlecroft founded Yeovil athletic club with her husband Bill, who the arena is named after

Councillors told campaigners outside the meeting they hoped Yeovil Town Council would pick up funding the Recreation Centre sports facilities.

Yeovil Town Council had previously said it was "considering its position as to whether it can contribute towards the running costs of the facilities".

It said it wanted to "do what is best for the people of Yeovil" but any new funding for the centre would be likely to require higher council tax for people living in the Yeovil Town Council area.

Councillor Theo Butt Philip told the meeting Somerset Council is "in talks with local partners about alternative service models".

Taz Haysham from Bridgwater wanted to send a message to national government

Somerset Council said it needs to find £100m to avoid going effectively bankrupt, £35m of which is proposed to come from savings from services.

The meeting also heard which five of Somerset's 16 recycling centres could close to save £963,000 over the next two years.

Castle Cary, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Dulverton and Williton household waste recycling centres are all being looked at for closure.

The council's leader, Bill Revans, said this was "not a final and definitive list" but rather "options which we have to do more work on".

He added the council was "at pains to be transparent on these difficult choices".

Somerset Council would still have 11 centres if this proposal is voted through at the council's final budget meeting.

Somerset Council deputy leader Liz Leyshon told the meeting: "No one stands for election to make others unhappy, we all want to make a better difference."

A spokesperson for Somerset Council added: "We understand there will be concerns. To be clear, no decisions have been made and will not be until the budget is set at full council on 20 February