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Sunday 22 September 2019

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Library's shelves emptied in Devon village over fears about closure

More than 300 residents emptied Braunton Library's shelves over fears that planned cuts could mean its closure

The shelves are emptied at Braunton Library in Devon
The shelves are emptied at Braunton Library in Devon Photo: Paul Trueman

A library’s shelves were left empty after hundreds of residents borrowed books in a campaign against planned budget cuts.

The shelves are emptied at Braunton Library in Devon
A young resident borrows several books

Braunton Library, in north Devon, is “a well-used, much-loved” library, according to campaigners.

Now residents fear it could close because Devon County Council has said savings must be made.

In their fight against feared closure, more than 300 residents, according to campaign group Save Braunton Library, borrowed several books each on Saturday.

Save Braunton Library began earlier this year after a group of primary schoolchildren started a petition to protect the library.

Campaigner Ben Hewitt said it came to his attention after his children signed the 400-strong petition.

Mr Hewitt said: “People came out because they fear closure and we had about 350 people come out of all ages, from elderly people to young people.

“The library is at the heart of the community and one in five people use it and we’ve been running a book group there for 17 years.”

He said the children’s section was left completely empty and half of the other sections were empty.

Mr Hewitt said they would return the books but "stagger it over the three-week borrowing period" to give the “brilliant” staff a chance to deal with the return of so many books.

However in June, the council gave the library the status of “medium to large library” to reflect its popularity.

According to the BBC, the council says there had “never been any intention to close it” but in April briefing papers said Braunton Library could be one of 28 at risk of closure.

The council spokesman told the BBC the library service consultation ended on July 17 and added: "We do still need to find savings within the library service, and Braunton, as indeed all our libraries, will need to play their part."

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