I have received this response to the article from the South London Press on possible library closures in Southwark. It is good to see that councils can decide NOT to make library cuts.
Colleagues
Contrary to recent conjecture in the local press, there are no plans to close libraries in Southwark. Councillor Lewis Robinson, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport said;
“I would like to make it crystal clear that we have no plans to close the libraries named by the South London Press as earmarked for closure as part of next year’s budget setting. We are in a tough financial situation and libraries were presented as an option to balance the budget, but it was completely discarded weeks ago. With the Government’s refusal to review its flawed funding arrangements in the face of the current recession, Southwark Council faces a significant funding gap. It is a mark of the seriousness of the situation that these kind of proposals were even on the table. Rather than closing libraries, we have been investing in them and in the last year we have extended opening hours at four libraries, begun work on Lottery funded improvements to John Harvard Library, part-refurbished Newington Library and will soon be starting work on the new library for Canada Water as well as taking receipt of a new mobile library. I fully support the excellent work of our staff in the libraries team”.
Happy New Year!
Adrian
Adrian Whittle
Head of Culture, Libraries, Learning and Leisure
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