A MUCH-loved Watchet landmark, the town’s Harbour Community Bookshop, on the Esplanade, is to close after 17 years in which it has raised nearly £300,000 for medical research and local charities.

The decision to close at the end of September sent shock waves through the town and saw discussions held this week on possible ways of continuing the business in a different form under a new name.

The bookshop, which attracts visitors from as far as London, was founded in 2009 by retired teachers Alan and Melanie Woollam, in memory of their son Tom, who died aged 28 of cystic fibrosis.

Tributes have been paid to bookshop managers Mary and Jeff Bird, who have been involved with the project since 2009 and whose retirement has led to the closure decision.

Mr Bird said in a letter sent this week to the bookshop’s 60 volunteers: “I am sorry to give you this news and hope it has not come as too much a surprise, but now is the time for us to retire after 17 years after working almost every day from April to October without a break.

“Our achievements have greatly exceeded the expectations of Melanie and Alan when they first conceived the bookshop as a tribute to their son Tom.

“These achievements could not have happened without the dedicated team of volunteers.

“Not only have you helped in the smooth running of the shop but have presented a great front-of-house team, a fact which is often mentioned in the visitor comment book.

“We are also indebted to the Watchet Coastal Community Team (WCCT).

“When we lost the tenancy of the building in 2018 the WCCT stepped in and acquired it and through grants refurbished it to the standard we have today.”

Since 2009, nearly £200,000 has been raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, while another £100,000 has been given in grants to local good causes and volunteer groups.

In 2019, the bookshop was given notice to quit by the then-landlord West Somerset Council, which planned to let the building at a commercial rent, but it was saved by WCCT, which bought and refurbished the then semi-derelict building and handed it back to the bookshop in 2021.

WCCT chairman Martin Stevens told the Free Press: “As landlords of the building, we very much hope to keep it running as a bookshop and are having discussions about the best way to do this.”

Mr Stevens said there had been ‘an encouraging response’ to an appeal for new management to take over the business and continue raising money for local good causes.

He said: “Mary and Jeff have done a wonderful job over the last 17 years and the bookshop is a great tourist attraction, a real asset to the town, and a massive fund-raiser.

“We are really anxious to keep it running as a bookshop on its present lines and many of the 60 volunteers who work there have told us they want it to continue.

“We are hopeful the positive reaction we are getting will result in a new chapter opening for something which is now part of Watchet life.”

Mrs Bird said when the bookshop closes in September the stock of books will be removed and sold to enable the £200,000 cystic fibrosis research target to be reached.

She said: “That was the reason for setting up the bookshop in the first place, and why books were donated.

“That has always been our aim, and when we reach our target that will be mission accomplished and it will be the end of the Harbour Community Bookshop.

“We will take some of the fixtures and furniture, but we could negotiate on other things.

“We have done our job and we are also getting older and would like some time to ourselves.”

Mr Bird said: “Our business model is such that although we have lots of volunteers, the main workload falls on just three of us, Mary, myself, and Linda Stroud, who is manager of the volunteers.

“We have been working in the bookshop since it opened 17 years ago and from April to October we have been involved with it in some way every day.

“We thought it only fair to tell our landlords WCCT, we are closing the bookshop in its present form and will invite any of our volunteers to consider carrying on the business in some form.”