Earlier this month, I hosted a drop-in session at Budleigh Salterton Library. The turnout was strong, and it was fantastic to see just how busy the library was throughout my visit, with local people of all ages making full use of the space and its services.
During the session, librarians raised serious concerns about the Libraries Unlimited consultation, which is now affecting libraries not just in Budleigh Salterton, but across the constituency and the wider county.
Devon County Council has recently launched this consultation, which will run until the 22nd February 2026. The council currently oversees 50 libraries across Devon. Last year alone, these libraries welcomed 2.6 million visits and hosted more than 14,000 events. On its website, the council states that no libraries will close under the proposals. However, reassurances on paper do not remove the very real anxiety being felt on the ground.
The council has also said it is seeking views on the increased use of volunteers and community-managed libraries, where local organisations could take on day-to-day running with support from the authority and Libraries Unlimited. While community involvement is valuable, shifting responsibility in this way risks placing significant pressure on already stretched volunteers and local groups.
The most concerning part of the council’s own statement is its admission of the financial reality behind the consultation. Devon County Council says:
“Our consultation comes as we face mounting financial pressures which means that we must now look at how services are delivered. The library service budget has been reduced year on year, and whilst efficiency savings have been made, the current model is no longer sustainable.”
This matters because only months ago, during the local elections in May, Liberal Democrat candidates across Exmouth and Exeter East were circulating leaflets attacking “wasteful Conservative spending” and warning about “cuts” under the previous Conservative administration. Now, it appears they are prepared to oversee changes that risk cutting or hollowing out services themselves.
Perhaps the most striking example from the campaign was a sitting Lib Dem County Councillor, posing outside Budleigh Salterton Library in his election leaflet, promising to fight Conservative “cuts” and protect vital local services.
So now, the library used for his campaign photo is under threat on his party’s watch.
More recently, a Liberal Democrat district councillor has entered the debate by promoting a “save our libraries” event on social media, stating that “Devon’s libraries are under threat” and inviting people to come along and share their views, adding that “nothing is off the table”.
But it is her party that is driving this consultation. They cannot continue to blame others or campaign against decisions they themselves are responsible for. There is nowhere to hide: they are in charge at both tiers of local government.
There is little value in unnecessarily shifting focus onto the past. What local people want now is honesty, clarity, and a clear plan.
Time and time again, when the difficult decisions have to be made, the Liberal Democrats seem to find someone else to blame. They cannot keep ducking and diving responsibility while holding the reins of power. If they are in charge, then they must own the consequences of their decisions and be upfront with people about what they intend to do next.