Three libraries in North Somerset "highly likely" to be closed
Councillors voted in February to cut more than £400k from the libraries budget
Libraries across North Somerset could soon see their hours cut back — and three are ‘highly likely’ to be closed outright — as North Somerset Council makes major cuts.
The council has said it is ‘highly likely’ that Worle Library, Pill Library, and Winscombe Library will all be closed under the planned cuts. One library in either Pill or Winscombe could be kept open — but this would mean more cuts elsewhere.
While the council’s other libraries are set to remain open, all of them will still be affected by the cuts. Council cabinet member for culture, leisure, and outdoor spaces Mike Solomon said: “We know and recognise that our libraries are very much loved and at the heart of communities.
“That’s why we are keen to ensure that North Somerset’s future library service is fair, accessible and future proof whilst continuing to fulfil our statutory duty of providing a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service. It needs to meet the changing needs of local communities whilst achieving our agreed £433K savings target.”
Councillors voted in February to cut £433k from the libraries budget as the council tries to make £44m of savings across the next three years to balance its budget. They will vote in February 2026 on the specific actions to achieve that cut, which could be implemented between summer 2026 and September 2028.
This is how each library in North Somerset would be affected by the actions being considered:
In Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare Library
Weston-super-Mare Library in Weston Town Hall could close at 5pm instead of 6pm under the plans — which could pose a problem for people who stop by after work.The council says it will “explore the feasibility” of extending self-service hours to cover this time. Meanwhile, it could also close at 12.30pm on Saturdays instead of 4pm.
North Somerset Studies Library
The small North Somerset Studies Library in the same building is currently open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday. Under the plans, it could close at 12.30pm on Saturdays too and close fully on two other days of the week. The council says other study space would be made available.
For All Healthy Living Centre Library
The library in the For All Healthy Living Centre on the Bournville could close for an hour over lunch each day, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. But the council says there it could potentially be closed fully on Mondays in order to save enough money to keep either Pill or Winscombe library open — both of which are marked for closure. The council says it would explore self-service opening at the For All Healthy Living Centre Library.
Worle Library and Children’s Centre
Worle Library is set to be closed outright. It is one of three libraries facing closure. Although the council says no decisions have yet been made, none of the proposed options going out for consultation include keeping the library open.
The council said: “The council cannot afford the significant costs required to repair and maintain the building.” It added that the library was a mile and a half from the nearest other council library at the Campus (see below).
Campus Library
The Campus Library could also see its hours cut. Instead of being open until 8pm through the week and until 5pm at weekends, it could close at 6pm on weekdays and 1pm at weekends. This is the largest cut of opening hours of any of the libraries the council plans to keep open: losing 18 staffed hours. But the council says it will “introduce further self service facilities” and there will actually be an overall increase in opening hours of 17 hours per week.
Across North Somerset
Clevedon Library
Clevedon Library would close half an hour earlier on Saturdays, shutting at 12.30pm instead of 1pm. The council says it would increase its self-service hours.
Congresbury Community Library
Congresbury Community Library is the one library where no changes are proposed — because it is not actually a council-run library. In 2017, the council stopped running the library itself and it was taken over by the community. North Somerset Council has said this could be done again with the libraries facing closure under its current plans.
Nailsea Library
Nailsea Library moved into its new home on Colliers Walk just two years ago. Its iconic octagonal former building has since become the Livro Lounge. The library is open until 6pm on Tuesday, 5pm Wednesday to Thursday, and 1pm on Saturday.
But now the later opening on Tuesday would be eliminated, with it close at 5pm then too, and it would close at 12.30pm on Saturday. Library users already have extensive extended access hours at the library and the council said self-service hours would be increased.
Pill Library and Children’s Centre
Pill Library is another library which faces closure. However, the council said it is possible that either it or Winscombe Library could be saved if the council cuts another £10k from spending on new books and stops opening the For All Health Living Centre library on Mondays.
If Pill Library does stay open, it would close half an hour earlier on Saturdays, shutting at 12.30pm instead of 1pm.
Portishead Library
Like other libraries, Portishead Library would close half an hour earlier on Saturdays, shutting at 12.30pm instead of 1pm. The council says it would increase its self-service hours.
Winscombe Library
The situation at Winscombe Library mirrors that of Pill. Both libraries face closure but the council has said it could keep one of them open if it cuts another £10k from spending on new books and stops opening the For All Health Living Centre library on Mondays.
Like Pill, if Winscombe Library does stay open, it would close half an hour earlier on Saturdays, shutting at 12.30pm instead of 1pm. The council says it would increase its self-service hours.
Yatton Library and Children’s Centre
Yatton Library is also in the same position as other libraries. It would close half an hour earlier on Saturdays, shutting at 12.30pm instead of 1pm. The council says it would increase its self-service hours.
Have your say
The council is asking people to have their say in a public consultation on the proposals. The proposals put forward three options for whether Pill Library, Winscombe Library, or both should be closed alongside Worle Library.
The council is also asking people their views on other ways to deliver the libraries service. The consultation states: “It is highly likely that up to three libraries could close if we cannot find an alternative way to deliver services in those areas. Potential closures at Pill and Winscombe are not confirmed, and your feedback, ideas, and local knowledge alongside our needs assessment, could help identify other options such as: community-run libraries, partner organisations stepping in, mobile or outreach services, and new income or funding opportunities.”