MINEHEAD will lose its library services from the end of this month until early in the new year, it was revealed this week.

During refurbishment of the Bancks Street library, which started in March, books and library services were moved to temporary accommodation in the Old Hospital building.

Now the county council library service has decided that the hospital building is not suitable for winter use and library users will be asked to renew items online or use other libraries in Somerset.

A Somerset County Council spokesman said: “We are very grateful to the Minehead Connect CIC for all their efforts in supporting the library service in Minehead over the summer months.

“The council has now taken the decision to close the library and registration services at this location at 1pm on October 30.

“The council is now working on plans to re-open the library and registration services at an alternative temporary location early in the new year. Details will be shared as soon as possible.

Cllr Mandy Chilcott, county council cabinet member for resources, said: “This decision has not been taken lightly. Unfortunately closing the library at the Old Hospital building is necessary as we head into the winter months.

“We would like to thank our service users for their understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The spokesman said the council would continue to operate the temporary library and registration service from the Old Hospital site until the end of the October half-term.

Library loans would be renewed until the library re-opens and no charges would be applied. Items could be renewed online at www.librarieswest.org.uk or by calling 0300 123 2224.

The permanent Minehead library building in Bancks Street is currently undergoing an extensive redevelopment which will see the building transformed into a modern flexible space for the community.

As part of the modernisation, a series of energy saving measures will be implemented to optimise the energy consumption of the building, supporting the council’s commitment to the climate emergency strategy.