27th July 2011

LYME REGIS: Community to run Charmouth library?

RESIDENTS of Charmouth were disappointed this week to receive news that Dorset County Council had decided to cut funding for the village’s library service.

Charmouth Library is one of nine facilities across Dorset that will have its funding cut in a bid to save £80,000. County councillors were split over the decision to cut the nine libraries or make savings across all Dorset libraries by cutting opening hours and book funds, and the decision was passed by a single vote despite widespread protest.

It is now hoped that the library could be run voluntarily to remain open in the future.

Chairman of the Friends of Charmouth Library, Hazel Robinson, said:

“People in Charmouth have been saddened by the news that the library will be closed unless we can find enough support in the community to keep it open - but you can be sure that we are going to try!

“There is still a lot going on behind the scenes where Ad Lib (the Association of Dorset Libraries) continues to act as a unit and will be exploring the possibility of a judicial review and, at the same time, negotiating for a better community offer with the council.

“Any takeover by the community does not have to happen until September 2012, so we have time to ask residents what they want in a new-look library, to raise funds and to see if we can find enough enthusiastic volunteers to keep it open.”

LYME REGIS: Community to run Charmouth library?

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