Slough opening, not closing, local libraries

Despite damaging cuts to local government passed down by the coalition government, Slough Labour Group has said that it will continue to invest in quality services for local people, and will not let the government dictate local spending priorities. While council's up and down the country are choosing to cut services such as libraries, Slough Labour Group has refused use spending cuts as an excuse, and instead has pledged to improve the library service across the town.

Since 2008 half of Slough's libraries have been refurbished with facelifts for Cippenham and Langley libraries. There are also proposals to reprovide Britwell library as part of the regeneration, and the central library as part of the Heart of Slough regeneration scheme.

In addition to refurbishing all of the current stock of libraries, work is underway to open new libraries in Chalvey and Colnbrook, and a site is being sought for Wexham Lea.

Britwell library will move out of its old and cramped current building, and into a refurbished building on the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Goodwin Grove closer to the heart of the community. This will enable more investment in equipment, such as self service machines and more space for community use. The central library will move into a new flagship building next to St Ethelberts Church, and will provide a pedestrian link between Bath Road and the High Street, as well as community and meeting space, adult learning facilities, a theatre and cafe.

Regeneration in Chalvey has already delivered a brand new Early Years Centre which opened to children in January, and as part of the next phase a new community hub will be provided. This will include a new library, adult education facilities, community meeting space and a kitchen. Chalvey does not currently have a library, so this is a new service for local residents.

The new Children's Centre in Colnbrook is also being designed to include a community library. The restoration of the historic former school also delivers a brand new service to Colnbrook, who currently do not have direct access to library services.

Libraries have featured heavily in Labour manifesto's in 2008 and 2010, resulting in a 22% increase in opening hours across the town's libraries. As part of the partnership between Slough Borough Council and Essex County Council the service will undergo continuing investment and improvement to deliver the service that residents have told us they would like.

Councillor Shafiq Chaudhry, Labour Councillor for Central Ward, and Cabinet Member for Libraries has written to neighbouring authorities expressing his disappointment that they have taken the decision to close libraries, instead of supporting vital public services.

Other sources:

Information about new library openings on Slough Borough Council's website http://www.slough.gov.uk/news/articles/22375.aspx

See the report of Labour Councillor Shafiq Chaudhry's letter here http://www.slough.gov.uk/news/articles/22375.aspx