Cippenham and Langley libraries ‘not fit for purpose’ as council considers closures

A warning that ‘once they are gone, they are gone’ has been sounded over two Slough libraries threatened with closure and deemed ‘not fit for purpose.’

Cippenham and Langley libraries – two of four libraries run by Slough Borough Council – face an uncertain future with a consultation underway on changes to their service as part of swathing cost-cutting measures.

A cabinet meeting last night (December 16) heard that changes needed to be made as footfall at the two libraries had dropped off a cliff since opening hours were dramatically reduced in 2022.

Council papers prepared for the meeting showed Cippenham Library had suffered a 75 per cent reduction in use and Langley Library had dropped 65 per cent since cuts to opening hours. 

Council leader Dexter Smith (Con, Colnbrook and Poyle) said the ‘unsatisfactory’ service now on offer in Cippenham and Langley meant the council needed to ‘stop ducking the issue’.

 “There is no question at all about this council’s commitment to continuing a library service and no question about us cutting the library service,” he said.  

“We are talking about using our resources in the most effective way, not reducing the resources.”

Papers for the cabinet meeting suggested a mobile library could be an alternative option to a library building. 

Councillor Wal Chahal (Con, Langley Marish) slammed a ‘shambolic’ consultation in 2021 - which prompted library cuts.

Cippenham Library is open regularly just three days a week and Langley is open four days a week, after a review undertaken by the council’s Labour administration in 2021.

Cllr Chahal said the consultation had caused libraries to ‘die on the vine’ and added, ‘what we have currently is not fit for purpose.’  

‘Grave concerns’ and a fear ‘once they're gone, they're gone’

At Monday’s meeting in Observatory House, guest speaker councillor Chandra Muvvala (Independent, Langley Marish) warned against proposals to close libraries.  

“Once they are gone, they are gone,” Cllr Muvvala said.

He said declining footfall was due to cuts in opening hours not because of changing needs, and added that residents needed to be ‘empowered’ to use libraries.

The council has slashed its library budget by almost half since 2019.

Closing Cippenham and Langley libraries would save it a further £195,000, according to the cabinet papers. 

As the council's purse strings continue to tighten - from a budget of £90,000 for new books this year, it has spent just £10,000.

The cabinet papers warned there would be ‘no new books for adults’ because children’s books had to be prioritised.

An estimated 2,839 children aged up to 12 years old borrowed books through Cippenham and Langley libraries last year.

Cllr Muvvala said: “We need to motivate, we need to empower the residents that library services are there.”

Conservative cabinet councillors Paul Kelly and Anna Wright - representing Haymill ward - also raised concerns about the proposals.

Cllr Kelly said he had ‘grave concerns’ over the consultation documents he considered had been ‘rushed’ to be ready for the cabinet meeting.

Cllr Wright added the consultation did not offer residents an opportunity to object to the closure of Cippenham and Langley libraries.

Cabinet unanimously approved a recommendation to begin the library consultation which is open for 10 weeks from today (December 17).

An online version is available at Slough Library Service Public Consultation - Slough Borough Council - Citizen Space