Greenwich borough library cuts on the way
Plans to reduce spending on Greenwich borough libraries are set to be discussed by Greenwich Council’s cabinet next week.
Under the title “Adapting Library Opening Times to Match Demand” changes will see cost reductions of £250,000 this financial year followed by £337,000 in subsequent years.
No library closures are proposed. Details of what libraries will be impacted are to be revealed soon.
A report states “Not all our libraries are well attended, and it is necessary to review the current demand for library services, looking at opening hours of some or all, but at the same time ensure that we offer a comprehensive and efficient library service”.
One potential option is to leave libraries unstaffed at times:
“There is also the opportunity to trial new technology to allow some libraries, through an ‘Express Library Service’, to give residents access to libraries when unstaffed on certain days, thereby increasing opening hours.”
Libraries
The borough has one of the busiest libraries in the country at Woolwich.
However others are used far less including Charlton and Coldharbour.
In the recent past money was spent changes to Plumstead library and combining with a leisure centre.
Abbey Wood library saw plans for alterations back in 2019 but no work has ever been undertaken. That followed a scrapped plan to move the library.
An allocation of £75,000 of Section 106 funding for the library in Abbey Wood has not been spent in the town.
The library sits in a run down shopping parade on the town’s estate with the area denied funding from nearby new housing development.
The council are seeking to enact various cuts as well as sell public land due to cost pressures from spiraling use of expensive temporary housing owing to a lack of social and council housing as well as social care costs.
