Three Havering libraries will close due to low usage and council budget issues. New community centers are planned.
They might build another floor on the South Hornchurch center. A new care place will be near the special needs school in Gidea Park. They are thinking about keeping library services in Harold Wood’s centers. People protested this plan since last May. They worried about kids and families losing out.
People said the closings would hurt the most vulnerable. Many protested to save the libraries. Gillian Ford said they need the saved £288,000. The council faces a big £71 million budget problem. She stated they had “no other choice” for cuts.
Havering Council borrowed £32.5m from the government last year. They may need even more for this year’s budget. Keeping the libraries open costs around £850,000. This includes surveys and repair costs. Ford admitted no one wants to close libraries.
If those libraries stayed open, others might suffer. Martin Goode said residents’ lives weren’t considered. He thought the impact was immeasurable. A Unison rep said the closings ignored residents’ views. She felt the consultation was useless to residents.
The union called the decision “disappointing.” Keith Prince questioned why so many residents were affected. He asked why they ignored the consultation. Most residents didn’t want any closures.
Ford explained the savings were in the budget. They must prove savings after borrowing a lot. Kathy Freeman said changes would be “very difficult.” Romford Central, Harold Hill, Hornchurch, and other libraries will stay open. Collier Row Library was almost closed, but they opted to keep it open because residents would travel too far to other libraries.