Havering Council To Apply For Grant To Help Refurbish Romford Library.

Local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann today writes on the possible refurbishment of Romford library.

Havering Council will apply for an Arts England grant of almost £500,000 to refurbish one of its libraries.

The £499,000 grant would be invested into “high-quality, durable design, fixtures, and fittings” in Romford Library.

In February, the cash-strapped council controversially voted to close three libraries in a bid to save around £288,000 a year. Romford was one of seven that was kept open.

The library was last refurbished in late 2008, and the council says it is “now time to modernise Romford Library, as the current space, décor, and layout are outdated and no longer meet the evolving needs of our diverse and growing community”.

The 60 year-old facility “lacks the warmth and inclusivity needed to welcome today’s users” and its layout is “ineffective,” the council says. It lacks bookable spaces for independent businesses or community groups and “struggles” with seasonal temperatures due to “poor infrastructure”.

The refurbishment will introduce new quiet study areas, “dynamic zones for children,” event space and meeting pods, which the council says will ensure the library “grows alongside the community it serves”.

The investment is not yet guaranteed, however.

Arts Council England, which offers cultural grants to artists and organisations, is accepting expressions of interest for its fourth round of the Libraries Improvement Fund until 30th May.

Organisations approved by the funding body will be invited to make formal applications on 24th June.

If the council is unsuccessful, it will lose £4,200 in consultancy fees.

The application comes two months after three of the borough’s ten libraries were closed by Havering Council.

The council-owned libraries in South Hornchurch, Gidea Park and Harold Wood closed their doors for the final time on 31st March.

While local campaigners said the £288,000 in savings paled against the social value of the libraries, Havering said it was “crucial” it did what it could to offset a £74million budget shortfall.

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