Croydon’s four closing libraries will remain community hubs, council insists

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Croydon council has said it has no plans to sell off four libraries that it will be withdrawing its funding for later this year, and insists they will remain open as ‘community hubs’.

They will stay open as bookable spaces for events and community groups, but be run by residents and community groups.

This news comes following the council’s decision to stop funding and staffing four libraries across the borough. Croydon council said the ‘closures’ will allow it to increase the opening hours and services at its remaining nine libraries.

Councillors across the house cited concerns from residents that the four libraries could be sold off or redeveloped. However, Mayor Jason Perry has been keen to emphasise the buildings will remain community spaces.

While he admitted that the shutdown of Bradmore Green (Coulsdon), Sanderstead, Broad Green and Shirley libraries was a ‘difficult decision’, he also insisted, with his now familiar line, that ‘to do nothing is not an option’.

The four libraries will now cease to operate their full services on the revised date of November 7, with them no longer being staffed.

Since 2019, Croydon’s libraries have had their opening hours reduced and budgets cut by £800,000. This has led to their usage dropping to a point where less than 10 per cent per cent of Croydonians now access their local library.

The new community hubs, while not staffed by full-time council employees, will remain open to the public who will be able to use them for community events and courses and book services.

It’s unclear whether any of them will retain any book borrowing services or general public computer use, as this would depend on a community group being able to fund and run those services.

The council has said it will support community groups who would want to take over the operation of the hubs in the absence of the council’s management.

A consultation set up in January showed two-thirds of respondents opposed the plans to close the libraries.

The leader of the Labour opposition, Stuart King, put these concerns to Mayor Perry during Wednesday night’s cabinet meeting, saying: “Mayor Perry, you promised to listen to Croydon. Can you tell the people of Croydon why you are ignoring them when they are telling you clearly and emphatically that you should not be closing down the libraries?”

Mayor Perry said: “Despite the best efforts of our staff, our library service is essentially failing residents and not meeting our best value duty. Currently, fewer than 10 per cent of our borough residents and even our own staff have indicated that the limited hours do not meet our resident’s needs.

“To do nothing is not an option, however this does not mean the end of the library services in these areas. We plan to introduce a new outreach model bringing services to easily accessible community venues suggested by residents where people can borrow books, participate in events and stay connected with the community.

“It was evident from the public consultation that the physical library buildings hold much significance for the community, so let me be clear – I want these buildings to continue to be used by the community and complemented by outreach services in these areas.”

Pictured top: Broad Green residents and local councillors Stuart Collins (centre) and Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed (far right) protested the council’s plans to close their library (Picture: Harrison Galliven)