Radstock is set to have a new Community Hub as of 16th April, with plans to serve the town similar to Midsomer Norton’s One Stop Shop, pulling services together in one place, but run by the Town Council, rather than B&NES. However, residents have been in touch with The Journal this week concerned about the future of Radstock Library – the movement of which has been a topic of discussion for some years.

Our local library resources are transitioning through the current administration’s ‘Modern Libraries’ programme, which will mainly see small parish libraries run by volunteers.

Midsomer Norton’s is still staffed at the Hollies; however, this was moved over to the One Stop shop from its old premises in the High Street. Whilst B&NES Council argues these measures have modernised the service and enabled it to survive in times of austerity, critics of the scheme have argued that the loss of books and knowledgeable staff is detrimental to the future of the service.

In some places, new libraries have been set up where they did not exist before, such as Timsbury, Bishop Sutton and Peasedown St John – with the Residents’ Association announcing on World Book Day that they were designing their own Community Library logo. This service will also be run by volunteers.

Paulton’s Hub has run successfully alongside an independent café, and are also looking for volunteers as B&NES Council steps away (see Page 6).

The ageing Mobile Library, which was criticised for being in the garage more than it was on the road, has been replaced with a brand new £120,000 custom-designed vehicle, which will offer digital access, online services and Wi-Fi. And of course, everyone knows about the hard-fought battle that Save Bath Libraries has, for now, successfully waged to keep the city’s service in the Podium – the plans for which have been scrapped this side of the local elections.

But back to Radstock. As of 16th April, the Library building will become a ‘Community Hub’ for the town, which will house the Town Council, who have been looking to move for some time; the Library, Children’s Services, public access computers,signposting for other services, and a meeting space for local community groups. The Town Council hope that other services will also be represented at the new Community Hub, such as the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Curo, local police, the Job Centre, Big Local and tourist information.

A spokesperson for B&NES Council told The Journal on Tuesday: “We have been working with Radstock Town Council which, at its meeting on Monday evening, agreed a plan to create a Community Hub for Radstock.

“The application to run the library has been approved, along with a start-up grant of £5,000 and ongoing professional support and provision of resources by Bath & North East Somerset Council as part of its Modern Libraries Programme.

“Along with using the library, people will also have continued access to Children’s Services; access to advice and information services such as CAB, PCSOs, Big Local and Tourist Information, and there is also meeting space for community groups.

“The library will close on Thursday, 28th March for a short period and will be open again on Tuesday, 16th April by the Town Council.

“Staff who work at Radstock also work across all sites in the area, and will continue to work at those council-run library and information centres.”

Radstock Town Council says that the changes will come at no extra cost to locals, due to restructuring and careful financial planning, helped by the Council leasing the building at a peppercorn rent, eventually being subject to an asset transfer.

The library will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but a spokesperson from the Town Council told The Journal this week that they hoped to be able to open for longer and on Saturdays as well, should they receive enough help from volunteers, of which they are currently recruiting.

Radstock Town Councillor and B&NES’ Labour Ward Councillor for the town, Chris Dando, who has been supportive of keeping services in the town rather than losing them entirely, said: “I am pleased that the Town Council has been able to develop this Community Hub for residents, that will see a library service continue from the building, as well as improving access to the Council.”

The location where Radstock’s library would end up in future has caused debate for years. Back in 2014, Journal columns were discussing if the library would move over to Radco, with self-service kiosks, under Lib-Dem administration plans. This was eventually scrapped.

Readers may be forgiven for scratching their heads at this point – as the library was originally supposed to be moving in to the new Doctors’ Surgery at Waterloo Road, of which there is still no news. The application has been permitted by B&NES, with NHS funding still yet to be released. Big Local’s Community Kitchen is also planned to feature in the proposed new building.

Whilst it remains to be seen how local residents will feel about the changes, some of our readers have been in touch to share their concerns (see Letters, Page 2). Susan Sparkes says she was “deeply shocked” to see books being packed up, with the library “a shadow of its former self.”

Others have questioned whether or not stocks will be severely depleted as a result, and how different the library will look once it reopens. Westfield Parish Councillor, Lesley Mansell, has reminded people in her letter this week that this new facility must be used or lost completely in future.

To register your interest as a volunteer for Radstock library, readers can email: [email protected] or call: 01761 437962.