Community launches fight against ‘horrific’ cuts planned for a Torridge library

The community of Northam has begun the fight against Devon County Council proposals to reduce the opening hours of its library by almost 75%.

Under the current proposals out for public consultation, Northam Library would see its hours cut from 21 to just six and open just two mornings a week, making it arguably the worst-hit library in North Devon and Torridge.

The Northam Library Action Group has formed to fight the proposals, saying such cuts would be a massive blow to the community, its social activities and the many groups that use the library, going way beyond the amount of books borrowed.

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The library consultation is running until February 22 and the county council is trying to balance its budget by cutting hours and days of opening at most local libraries, depending on what it says is how much they are used.

The Northam Library Action Group has called a public meeting for this Wednesday (January 7) at Northam Town Hall and council offices in Windmill Lane from 2pm.

Rob Smith, one of the founding group members, said the proposed cuts were ‘horrific’. He added: “What that would mean in effect is a lot of the groups and activities that take place, if they are proposing to cut it to two mornings a week.

“There are book and poetry groups, knitting and crochet. There’s days where school children visit the library for an hour to get books.

“There are lots of groups that meet there and there are people in the area that use the library as their only social contact during the week.”

The group has been busy speaking to people on door steps across Northam and Westward Ho! as well as delivering leaflets, posters and starting up a petition.

They argue that staff for Libraries Unlimited, the charity which runs Devon’s libraries on behalf of the county council, will also see their wages cut due to the huge drop in hours.

Myfanwy Langton-Jones, another member of the action group, who also runs a book group at the library, said she was ‘heartbroken’ by the proposals.

She said: “This decision, based on ‘usage’, seems to reduce our library to nothing more than a tally of borrowed books.

“But Northam Library is so much more than shelves of paper – it is the beating heart of our community. It is a warm, welcoming space where everyone, regardless of age, background, or ability, can come to connect, learn, and feel less alone. It offers free internet, a safe place for families, and countless opportunities to share in activities that bring joy and belonging.

“The librarians are extraordinary. They know people by name, greet you like friends, and create a sense of home. In Northam and Westward Ho! where so many live alone – especially older residents – this human connection is priceless.”

Mr Smith added: “With the amount of new house building that’s going on in our area, any calculation of the potential use of the library has not taken into account the future population of the area.

“We are hoping to see a good few people come to the meeting on Wednesday and then we can gauge the amount of support we have.”

Both adults and children can take part in the public consultation, which closes on February 22. To find out more about the proposals and see the specific proposed opening changes for every Devon library, go to https://devonlibraries.commonplace.is