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January 2, 2009
Four libraries are to be closed in Southwark
Southwark currently has 13 libraries including the sadly ruined one in Newington Causeway where the council needlessly closed the beautiful reading room and reference library last year. This action will reduce the number to nine.
The budget for libraries in Southwark was £7.5m in the last published figures. With that kind of money there is absolutely no need to close anything.
Does anyone know where these 4 are?
Here is the story on Saturday in the South London Press.
Posted by Perkins at January 2, 2009 9:09 PM
Comments
Perkins, Southwark Council claim that Library closures were considered as an option, but those plans have been "discarded" Lewis Robinson, for the council is reported as saying:
"we have no plans to close the libraries… as part of this budget.
"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."
http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,13574,440,00.htm
It is, however, important to keep a watch on the situation.
Posted by: Martyn at January 3, 2009 11:42 AM
The official statement from the council is that there will be no closures. Whether that is a result of the alertness of the local press who caused the backtrack, or whether the plan was never a serious one, we shall probably never know. But, as Martyn says, it is important to keep a watch on this and all other councils.
Posted by: perkins at January 6, 2009 8:06 PM