Libraries facing closure as budgets squeezed

Khadija is one of the many readers who visit South Hornchurch Library

A number of libraries in London are facing the threat of closure as council budgets continue to be squeezed.

Havering is the latest borough to announce a consultation to close nearly half of its 11 libraries.

Similarly, four of Croydon's 14 are at risk and Haringey has proposed to reduce hours at seven libraries.

Havering Council said the proposal to reduce the number of libraries was one of many "painful decisions" it faces due to budget cuts.

Kamal Shah is chairman of the North Harrow Community Library and the Community Libraries Network

The local authority on the London-Essex border has long warned that it may not be able to balance its books.

It previously secured a £54m loan in government support to avoid effectively going bankrupt.

In doing so the council agreed £15m in budget cuts and an increase in council tax by the maximum 4.99% allowed.

One of the libraries earmarked for closure is South Hornchurch Library.

At the library, reader Matei, aged eight, said he had been going to there "since I was little".

"I've felt a really strong connection with this library and I really don't want it to go down. There are so many awesome books in here and I'd be so sad if it closes," he said.

Matei (l) and Lucas are both regular visitors to South Hornchurch Library

Lucas, also eight, said: "I would feel very sad if it closed, it's very big and got lots of sections and it only cost £1 to get in here."

Another borough which faced the prospect of library closures is Harrow.

However, at the North Harrow Community Library, the residents pitched in to keep it running.

Chair of the library, Kamal Shah, who is also chairman of the Community Libraries Network, said the building, which is run purely with volunteers, has on average some 3,000 people a month coming through the doors.

Speaking about the proposed closures in Havering, he said: "I understand the need to save money because of the financial pressures that they are under but I am shocked that they say that nobody in the community is interested in taking them on and running them.

"Libraries are the new community centres, communities need somewhere to meet, they need services which provide somewhere for people to read, they are important spaces that we're going to lose.

"Working with the community, you save these buildings and save money at the same time."

The North Harrow Community Library was saved by volunteers

Havering councillor Paul Middleton said the borough was "being forced to make further savings" as a result of "an outdated funding formula from central government and a budget gap of £28m".

"The proposals to reduce the number of libraries is one of many painful decisions we will need to make until we get a better deal from government which accurately reflects the borough’s changing population and need."

He added that the "strategy looks at our current libraries today" as "we believe a smaller number of libraries means we can also provide better buildings and facilities to residents with the limited money we have.

"I urge all residents to take part in our consultation and to help us shape the future of our libraries."

Havering's consultation will run for 12 weeks until 2 August.

A spokesperson for the government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “We know libraries are important services for residents.

"Councils are ultimately responsible for their own finances and earlier this year we announced an increase in Core Spending Power available to local authorities.

"For Havering this means an increase of up to £15.8m or 7.2% – making available a total of up to £236.4m in 2024-25.

"We have also agreed to provide Exceptional Financial Support to Havering Council to help address the challenges they are facing."