Havering Council plans to close three libraries due to funding issues, sparking community concern and calls for action from residents.
Havering: The council is facing some tough choices. They’re looking to close Harold Wood, South Hornchurch, and Gidea Park libraries because of money troubles.
This decision is set to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on February 5, after a review on February 3. They say closing these libraries will save about £288,000 a year, which they really need to keep up with rising costs in social care and homelessness.
These three libraries have the fewest visitors out of all ten in the borough. The council believes there are other branches nearby that can serve the community better. Plus, they need a lot of money to keep these libraries in good shape.
They mentioned that while Harold Wood library will close, there’s hope it might reopen in a new spot down the line as part of some future development.
Cllr Ray Morgon, the council leader, said this was a really hard decision. He pointed out that it’s all due to ongoing cuts in government funding and the rising costs of social services.
He also stressed the importance of keeping other essential services running for residents. They know closing libraries will impact the community, which is why they chose to close three instead of four, but they feel stuck with no easy options.
On a positive note, he mentioned that no permanent staff will lose their jobs because of these closures, thanks to temporary staffing arrangements.
The council is also looking into creating a community program in South Hornchurch. This could include volunteer-led book swaps and study spaces, but they admit it won’t be enough to cover the financial gaps from the closures.
Cllr Morgon added that they reached out to the government for help but didn’t get any solid commitments to funding that could save the libraries. He’s urging residents to sign an online petition to push for change.
If you want to help out, you can find the petition at the link provided.
