‘I feel that it is not an open and honest decision about the future of the libraries and that decisions have already been made’.

Fears expressed over library closures by Havering residents.

The future of Havering’s library service is the subject of discussion in a series of public consultations starting this week, with the first event having taken place on Tuesday evening at Romford Town Hall.

However, according to Squirrels Heath Green Party campaigner Mark Whiley, some residents feel that the governing administration has already made up its mind and are concerned that accessibility is heavily reliant on internet access.

“There are established principles for public consultations that, firstly, state that proposals must be at a formative stage (though a decision in principle is fine); and that adequate time must be given which needs to consider the size of the group consulted, and the means of consultation.”

“My concern from talking to residents in Gidea Park and the surrounding areas is that this appears to residents as a foregone conclusion being explained to them, and secondly that the Council has not sent any written letters to local people and has said you need to pre-register online for the public consultation dates. These factors may lead to a lack of engagement in the consultation, particularly from those who are less confident with using computers.”

Concerned local resident Sam Dobney organises consultations for large planning schemes in his work and believes the library consultation is “insufficient and inadequate”.

“I feel that it is not an open and honest decision about the future of the libraries and that decisions have already been made,” said Mr Dobney.

“In my experience, as a minimum, notices need to be issued in the local press, and potentially a mailout is needed informing residents. The meeting should be a fully open public meeting, not exclusionary through the means of registration.”

Online submissions to the consultation and registration links for all the public consultation dates can be found at www.bit.ly/havlibraryconsult. Several petitions exist from local residents, the Conservatives, and the Green Party. You can find the Green Party’s online petition for the Gidea Park Library at www.bit.ly/gidealibraries.

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