Shut Down Gidea Park Library To Be Used As A Base For Property Developer.

Local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann writes:

A shuttered library in Havering will be used as a base for a property developer, though the future of other centres remains unclear.

Gidea Park library, one of three in the borough to be closed by Havering Council last month, will become the temporary home of construction firm Galliford Try.

It was contracted by the council to develop the new Balgores Special School, a dedicated facility for children with special educational needs (SEND).

The purpose-built school, with 300 spaces available, is expected to open in September 2027. It was first approved in late 2023.

Deputy leader Gillian Ford said moving Galliford Try in would “alleviate the holding cost and reduce preliminary cost in the school construction contract” at a meeting on 26th March.

In October, the cabinet agreed to pay Galliford Try £2million to draw up plans for the school.

All told, the new school is expected to cost around £38m, but the council says it will save money in the long-term by reducing out-of-borough placements.

The council previously said it hoped to see the library become a care facility to complement the school.

Future uses of the South Hornchurch library, which will also close on Saturday, were “still being explored,” she said.

She said the library needed around six weeks to clear the building of stock but the options “should be clearer” by mid-May.

The Havering Residents Association councillor added that she had recently received a proposal for the building from a “group established in Harold Wood” and would be responding “in due course”.

The closure of the libraries prompted heavy pushback from residents and opposition councillors, who said it would “hit the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest”.

Councillors previously said they were in early talks to continue library services in Harold Wood through community centres.

Later in the meeting, Councillor Martin Goode, leader of the East Havering Residents’ Group, challenged the council over the future provision of recycling bags.

A roll of 16 is delivered to every household in the borough every 13 weeks, while extras are available from council-owned libraries.

Residents in Harold Wood were previously able to collect more orange sacks from their local library but would be in the dark following Saturday’s closure, Cllr Goode said.

However, council leader Ray Morgon said “all existing libraries” would continue to stock them and that he did not think people would need to go frequently.

He said: “I don’t think many people would need to go on a regular basis to pick up additional orange sacks. They should be getting enough delivered to them on their doorsteps.”

He added that the council was “open to engaging” with local businesses or community centres that were interested in supplying them.

Council guidance also recommends asking a friend or neighbour for any spares.

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