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Lewisham libraries facing closure have received a temporary reprieve from the council although cuts are feared in Brent and Gloucestershire.
Lewisham's mayor, Sir Steve Bullock, has postponed making a decision on the five libraries under threat, in Crofton Park, Sydenham, New Cross, Grove Park and Blackheath, for two months. The borough's residents have run a concerted campaign against the closures, including a protest march to the town hall held on 30th October.
According">http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/8633481.LEWISHAM__Library_closure_deci... to a report in News Shopper, Bullock, who needs to find £60m in savings over the next three years, said the current proposals did "not provide enough detail on the alternative community library proposals" and a final decision could not yet be taken.
But in Brent, six of 12 libraries in the borough are facing closure as the council looks to save £1m, according">http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/628571.Half_Brent_s_libraries_facing_t... to a report in the Harrow Times. Sue Harper, director of environment and neighbourhood services, said the “transformation project” would improve the quality of library services in Brent, saying the six libraries under threat are “poorly located and have low usage”. The council would need to invest more than £1m over the next 20 years to deal with repairs at the library buildings, she added.
In Gloucestershire, where in August the council said it would cut this year's spending on library stock by nearly 40%, 11 libraries are now in the firing line if community groups fail to step forward to take them on, according">http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Gloucestershire-County-Counc... to This Is Gloucestershire.
The council plans £2.5m of savings over the next four years, and hopes to transfer 11 libraries to community groups such as parish councils, charities or residents’ groups. If nobody takes them on, they will close.