‘The Library Is All We Really Have In Harold Wood, It Is Part Of Our Life.’

On Wednesday evening Cabinet Members chose to close three Havering libraries-one of those being Harold Wood. The Councillors had been asked to pause their decision to allow further cost saving alternatives to be gathered and then presented. They didn’t. The axe has now fallen on South Hornchurch, Gidea Park, and Harold Wood library.

A Harold Wood resident has spoken to the Havering Daily about the awful impact this closure will now have on their local community.

Tracey has lived in the area for more than twenty years and works with young children who regularly use the library.

“It is sad to know that these councillors making decisions for us really do not care. They can say they do, but the fact that they chose to not even pause the closure decision and go ahead with the closing it, speaks volumes. We have been told that they want them rapidly shut so that they can be sold off in April. That’s just how quickly we are going to lose our library, for it to probably become another block of flats.

“Harold Wood library is part of our history, our life, our community. It really is all we have here. It is a small but much loved area in the community. Our children use it daily, the elderly use it daily. It is not just a place people go and read, but chat and stay warm, especially with the winter fuel allowance being cut.

“For people that know Harold Wood, they are aware of the fact that it is a very small place. We have a row of shops by the station and then our library. There really isn’t much else here,” she tell us.

Tracey uses the library regularly herself with her children both for work and at home.

“At work we often walk our children down to the library to get them used to reading books and learning how libraries work.

“After school I bring my two children their during the week to have a quiet reading time as at home there are often too many distractions for them to sit and read.

“I know our three councillors here in Harold Wood have fought really hard to keep this library open and find ways to try and fund it. It is just a shame that they were not listened to.

“I understand the borough has huge financial problems, but this is not the way to solve them. They are destroying our community. Surely selling the land off to make another block of flats will eventually add more problems to this borough and not less?

“Sorry, but this is an awful decision for our community and they clearly do not realise the awful impact this terrible decision will have on our local community,” finishes Tracey.

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