A heated clash over library funding has erupted between councillors, with claims of “completely untrue” statements and questions over how public consultation responses were handled.
The disagreement unfolded during a Tiverton Town Council meeting on Monday, March 23, where councillors debated the county’s budget decisions and future of library services.
Cllr Tim Bridger challenged the council’s position, questioning claims that no libraries would close and that funding had been restored.
He said: “The Devon County report, the claim no libraries are going to be closed and they reversed the cuts and there’s £1million for some improvements is interesting because that’s not actually what the budget itself says.”
Cllr Bridger continued: “I know you were handed a massive lifeline by the government who suddenly worked out an election was coming, but you haven’t actually put £650,000 back into the budget for libraries.”
He added: “You closed your budget before the consultation on libraries was finished, 25,000 people responded and the next day you decided what they’d said and I didn’t hear a single person who said that wanted anything to happen in terms of open access, but apparently you’ve put £1million into it.”
Cllr Bridger also questioned how conclusions were reached so quickly following the consultation.
He said: “Can you explain to anybody how you know what 25,000 people said the day after the consultation closed?”
Responding, Cllr Steve Lodge, a Devon County councillor for Tiverton West, rejected the claims outright.
He said: “Pretty much everything you’ve just said is completely untrue. It really is completely untrue.”
Cllr Lodge added: “Councillor Bridger your attitude is awful. I shall make no additional comment and I will respond to Councillor Bridger in writing through the clerk, and I shall explain as I did previously last month why Councillor Bridger’s assertions are incorrect.”
Devon County Council reaffirmed in its 2026 budget that no libraries will close as part of its £839 million budget.
Plans include restoring the book fund to £500,000 by adding £225,000, alongside £425,000 to support general library services during a transition period.
An additional £1 million reserve has also been identified for libraries and rural hubs, intended to support transformation and community-led improvements.
Prior to these changes, libraries had been expected to find £650,000 in efficiency savings, but this requirement has now been reversed. The overall budget for libraries, which was set to fall from £7 million to around £6.5 million, will now remain above the higher figure.
