Council ‘cannot guarantee’ that libraries will remain open
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
Croydon council cannot guarantee the borough’s 14 libraries will remain open for the next three years.
The stark warning came at a council meeting on Wednesday night.
Leader of the Labour opposition, Councillor Stuart King, asked how many of Croydon’s libraries would still be open in May 2026, when the next council elections are due to take place.
Croydon’s Conservative mayor, Jason Perry, said: “The reality is that libraries are listed as potential disposals.
“I don’t know where, we are at the very early stages of setting the budget for next year. To answer your question, I don’t know right now.”
Cllr King pressed the mayor on which libraries would be at risk. He singled out Shirley and Norbury and asked whether a commitment could be made that the two would remain open.
However, Mayor Perry said he could not say which libraries would be affected at this stage.
Councillor Jason Cummings, cabinet member for finance, who also represents Shirley, said: “As a councillor for Shirley it is sad that we find ourselves in this position that we have to consider whether our libraries remain open.
“We can’t give assurances that Shirley will stay open. I have been totally open with my residents about that and I’ve been totally open with them about whose fault it is.”
Pictured top: Shirley Library (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Oxyman)
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