PROTESTERS have called on Somerset County Council to review their plans to close Wiveliscombe's recently-opened and refurbished library.

Over 220 people squeezed into the Community Rooms last Friday for a meeting called by the town's civic society over the library services review.

People complained about the added cost and time involved traveling to Taunton library and claimed wheelchair users, the very elderly and low income families would be discriminated against.

There was also concern at plans to reduce the number of mobile libraries from six to just two vehicles.

Many people asked for the reduction in funding to be shared more fairly across the county.

Guest speaker Dr Tom Mayberry, Head of Heritage Services at the council, outlined the “enormous financial challenge “that the county was facing and how the library service must save 25% over the next three years.

This meant that 20 of the present 34 libraries would no longer be directly funded by the county. However, by keeping open the 14 libraries in the main urban centres, 80% of the present users would still have a library to use.

Follow speaker Cllr David Huxtable, a member of the county cabinet, asked: “What else do we cut in its place?”

The meeting, chaired by Pauline Homeshaw MBE, was attended by district councillors from Dulverton and Bishops Lydeard along with Jeremy Browne MP and Cllr Andrew Govier of Wellington.

A GROUP of parents from across Somerset are considering legal action against the county council over the review.

Steve Ross from Wiveliscombe said: “We hope our action will provide the council with an opportunity to stop and reflect on decisions made as well as to consider available alternatives."