Conservative Library Closure Plans Exposed

The list of libraries which the Conservative administration on Surrey County Council plans to force local communities to run, or be closed, has grown from 10 to 19 in a report for the September meeting of the County's Cabinet.

The report has added Ash, Caterham Hill, Frimley Green, Hersham, Horsley, Knaphill, Lightwater, Shepperton and West Byfleet libraries to the existing "under threat" list of Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haws, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Viriginia Water and Warlingham. The report says that if local communities don't take over the running of these libraries "a decision about closure will need to be taken."

Liberal Democrat Communities Spokesperson , Cllr John Orrick (Caterham Hill), said: "Surrey Conservatives have finally come clean about their plans to force even more local communities to take over the Council's reponsibilities. These local communities have a gun against their head, either take over running the library or Conservative Surrey County Council will close it.

"Liberal Democrats have fought against these ill thought out plans from the start and many local community groups have lobbied the Conservative administration to scrap them.

"In addition the exisiting group of 10 libraries under threat only have until December to have their business plans up and running or be closed, this is unrealisitic haste.

"The report highlights that there are many unresolved issues in the County's proposals, as a result communities can't complete business plans when they don't know the financial basis upon which they will be operating."

The report also says that the County's Mobile Library Service will end on 30 September. However it is unclear what alternatives services will replace the service.

Cllr Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills), the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, added: "This is yet another example of the Conservative administration at County Hall failing to listen and respond to the concerns of Surrey residents.

"In the case of the 246 residential homes and sheltered housing developments referred to in the report there is no indication what if any services will be provided instead.

"Mobile library users will face a gap in services between the end of the mobile libraries and the provision of other services, as the plans have been pushed ahead without any satisfactory alternatives being provided. The mobile libraries should never have been scrapped, they have provided an essential service for many people who cannot access libraries and the cost savings are minimal."