Ealing Council looks to cut funding for 7 libraries

Ealing Council has announced plans to end funding for up to seven local libraries.

Their plan is to convert these libraries into community-managed centers. This could mean shorter opening hours, or outright closures.

This change comes as a result of future cuts to Ealing’s government funding. There is currently a 57 million pound gap in the council’s funding, and government funding will cease in 2021. After that, the council will rely solely on council tax, business rates, and commercial income.

The Petition to Save Libraries from Outsourcing on change.org has gained over 5,000 signatures. The organization objects to the council’s budget cuts, claiming that libraries are “an investment in the future”, and that once libraries close, “they are gone forever.”

The council says that the community-based strategy has been effectively used by other local authorities, and that citizens have already come forward with plans to keep the libraries open.

If the cabinet agrees on the funding changes, public consultations will be held in February.