A GRANT application for essential repairs to Watchet Community Library was so successful that more money was awarded than had been applied for, town councillors were told.

Town clerk Jo Grellier said she submitted a bid to Somerset Community Foundation’s (SCF) ‘Help Through Winter’ fund.

Ms Grellier said she requested £3,950 and SCF actually awarded £4,000 to the council, which was ‘excellent news’.

The cost included £2,600 to replace and install a new boiler and plasterwork, £150 to cover damp repairs, and £1,200 to replace all 12 light fittings in the building to ensure ‘welcoming and efficient lighting’.

Ms Grellier said the library, on the Esplanade, was registered as a designated warm space for the town, which made it eligible for SCF support.

The library and warm space boiler repair was particularly timely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office this week issuing a Cold Health Alert until 8 am on Saturday (November 22).

UKHSA said cold weather can increase health risks, especially for older people, young children, and those with long-term health conditions.

People were urged to check on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbours, and take extra care when travelling.

Watchet’s library, which was gifted to the people of Watchet by benefactor Leonard Laity Stoate, was saved for the community in 2019 when the former West Somerset Council agreed to transfer the property’s freehold to the town council.

The town council helped set up a community library partnership to run the service and it now opens with varying hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Ms Grellier said councillors had previously agreed to move money from its CCTV budget to cover the library repairs.

However, three quotations were received for the work and the accepted tender was ‘substantially lower’ than expected, meaning the CCTV money would not now be needed.