Wiveliscombe Library could be closed as part of spending cuts by Somerset County Council, it emerged this week.

Mary Whitmarsh, Taunton Deane councillor for Wiveliscombe and West Deane, says figures put together as part of an assessment on which libraries could be closed by the county suggest the facility faces the chop.

She said she was pressing for a consultation meeting to be held in the town about the future and usage of the library.

She told the County Gazette: “According to the figures it looks likely we would lose the library.

“We are very far-flung and it would be half an hour to Dulverton Library and people in Wivey won’t want to travel to Wellington, either, which would mean a trip to Taunton which would take about half a day.

“I have made the suggestion it could be run by volunteers overseen by a professional librarian.”

The library only moved across the road to its new home from its previous base at the Court House earlier this year.

Cllr Whitmarsh added: “It took two years to complete that project. It would be desperately sad and such a waste of money to close it.”

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We are developing the detailed proposals for the future shape of the library service and no decisions have been made yet.

“We expect to be able to provide these proposals for consultation by mid-December and they will include potential impacts for specific libraries, highlighting those which will require community support if they are to avoid closure.”

Anyone concerned about the library closing can contact Cllr Whitmarsh on 01984-623286 or the Community Office on 01984-624777.