Four Croydon libraries to go – as resources focus on borough’s most popular ones

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Four libraries across Croydon are to close to save cash.

Croydon council says the closures will allow it to increase the opening hours of its nine most visited libraries, according to a paper published on its website.

The council first proposed the closure of the Bradmore Green (Coulsdon), Sanderstead, Broad Green and Shirley libraries in January of this year. Following a public consultation and impact assessment, Croydon confirmed these libraries will close on October 25.

The libraries are, respectively, in Bradmore Way, Farm Fields, Canterbury Road and Wickham Road.

The council has said the decision has been based on measuring footfall, the impact on the area the libraries serve and the libraries’ abilities to provide a wide range of services outside their primary purpose.

While the consultation found that many residents objected to the closure of what they saw as a vital community asset, the four libraries were deemed near enough to other services that people could use instead.

According to the council, less than 10 per cent of Croydon residents use their local libraries, and these four libraries saw some of the lowest footfall in recent years.

All but one of Croydon’s libraries have significantly shortened their hours of operation since the onset of Covid in 2020. This downscaling is also the result of the stringent spending constraints imposed on the borough following its bankruptcy.

Croydon has said that the money saved from this new ‘model’ will mean that its nine most popular libraries will be able to open five-days-a-week, including Saturdays.

The following nine libraries will see opening hours increase, following years of opening to the public between two to four days a week: Central Library (Opening days to be increased from five to six days per week); Ashburton Library (Increased from four to five days per week); and New Addington (from three to five days per week).

Selsdon Library’s staffed opening days will increase from three to five days per week with two days self-service access retained.

Two more libraries will open five says a week instead of two – Purley and South Norwood, while Coulsdon and Thornton Heath will increase its opening days from three to five).

New Addington, Purley, South Norwood, Coulsdon and Thornton Heath libraries will see some periods of self-service access during opening hours.

It is expected that the authority will sell off the buildings in an attempt to service its large debt burden of £1.4bn.

Pictured top: Broad Green Library – one of the four being axed (Picture: Harrison Galliven)