Enfield Libraries Proposed Changes How does this affect us and what to do next?
Enfield Council are currently consulting on their plans for the Enfield Library Service. With the financial pressures on the Council, they are looking at how to save money and make the library service more sustainable for the future.As a community organisation we are very concerned that this strategy will cause real long term harm and consequences to the residents of this borough.
We are particularly concerned about the suggestion to close these 8 libraries: Southgate, Winchmore Hill, Oakwood, Bowes Road, Bullsmoor, Enfield Highway, John Jackson and Enfield Island Village. We have been considering our response to the consultation and spoke to many of you at the Palmers Green Festival and those comments will be included in our response, but please do not hesitate to get in touch with any views. The main points raised were:The impact on children who need access to a range of books; what they learn is empowering. Parents cannot afford to provide a wealth of different books, teenagers need homework space, children will no longer be able to learn about the magic of books, libraries can be warm and safe places for many, not everyone has a computer or is computer literate so they are excluded from many benefits or access to services. This can have a financial
impact, not everyone can travel to other libraries. The old and disabled will be disadvantaged. Clubs run from these libraries may relocate, but the people who go may not be able to travel there. The libraries that are suggested for closure have good transport links (particularly Southgate which is a transport hub) so can be reached quickly by those living locally.
In the case of Southgate, the library is a part of our town centre. There are many groups, including SDCV who are working hard to improve our town, removing the library would be another blow to its fragile economy. Southgate Library provides the only public community space. It is used by local politicians for constituency meetings, the local baby health visitor, school visits plus classes. Closing it will take away the real heart of the whole community. SDCV has been working on a plan to relocate the Minchenden School War Memorial into the library – a space had been allocated. If the library closes, there does not seem to be a suitable alternative in
Southgate. We have members waiting to replant the front, to make it more inviting at no cost to the council. It has been frustrating to keep pushing this plan back. It shows how important and well regarded the Southgate library is to this community.
In responce to these issues we have many possible solutions to if not sovle this dilema, improve the situation. these are as followed. Run more book themed events, run community events, advertise their services better – some people reported that they thought Southgate library was still closed! Renting the space would be revenue generating, run computer courses to help access to online resources, cooperate with local FE colleges and schools, provide careers advice, provide advice on council services and to become an information hub on local groups, events and opportunities.
The proposed closure of Southgate library does not accord either with his priority of reinvestment in town centres or with Enfield Council's current programme of investment in the regeneration of Southgate town centre. We hope that he will revisit the suggestion of closing libraries as these are key sites to make our town centres thrive, as well as tackling inequality.
There are various petitions going round and these show the depth of feeling, but it is important that you also complete the consultation, because that is what the council will use in determining the final strategy. Residents of Enfield, people who study in Enfield and people who work in Enfield, representatives of schools, colleges, health organisations, local business, voluntary and community sector organisations, and Metropolitan Police and the
London Fire Brigade. The consultation closes on 14 th November 2024. You can see the full plan and send your comments to Enfield via: https://www.enfield.gov.uk/consultations/library-consultation.
We are aware that this issue does not effect Enfield alone. For more information or to share your experiance please contact Trinity Frantzen at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) who willcollate the replies.