WATCHET Library is now safe for the future after the town council signed an agreement with Somerset County Council last week to establish a community supported library partnership.

A joint signing was held to establish a Community Library Partnership, after weeks of uncertainty earlier this year and a legal wrangle when West Somerset Council claimed it owned the building and refused to transfer the freehold to the town council.

The future of the town’s library services hung in the balance for several weeks until the district council did a U-turn in January over the building, which was gifted to the people of Watchet by benefactor Leonard Laity Stoate.

The joint signing took place at Watchet Library on Tuesday, March 5, between Watchet Town Council clerk Sarah Reed and Somerset County Council’s strategic manager community and traded services Oliver Woodhams with Watchet councillors and library staff present.

“The town council are really looking forward to a bright future for our much loved library,” said chairman Cllr John Irven.

For the full story buy today’s Free Press.