COMMUNITIES are being pressurised into reaching agreements with Somerset County Council or losing their libraries – whereas they could have been encouraged to approach the current libraries’ consultation in an open-minded way, a support group has said.

Friends of Somerset Libraries has criticised Somerset County Council for changing wording on the consultation, which it said was “very disappointing”.

And in Wiveliscombe, campaigners to save the town library have hit out at yet more pressure being put on over-stretched and underfunded volunteers.

They are planning a massive book-signing event in the town in protest, on Wednesday (February 21).

Sweeping changes that could affect a number of libraries in West Somerset are part of a county-wide consultation being run by Somerset County Council until April 22.

In West Somerset, libraries under potential threat include Watchet, Wiveliscombe, Dulverton and Bishops Lydeard.

Options under consultation include either providing library services through a partnership with the local community to maintain the library building, or provision of a mobile library stop. At Dulverton there is also an option of no change to existing services.

There are no changes proposed for Minehead, Porlock – which already has a partnership in place between the local community, supported by Somerset County Council – or Williton.

Friends of Somerset Library (FOSL), said the changes to draft wording they had previously seen in discussions with councillors and council officers, now says in effect that if a community-supported solution to keeping some libraries open cannot be found, they will close.

The group held a meeting with council staff this week to outline their concerns and call for flexibility.

“The FOSL approach, which we believed the council had agreed with, was to deliver statutory library services through existing library buildings with community support,” said Peter Murphy, chairman of the group.

“This would, we believe, have encouraged communities to approach the consultation in an open minded way – but the change in the wording means they are being pressurised into reaching an agreement or losing their library.”