Sanderstead Library is under threat of closure yet again. The Council are running a consultation until 19th April 2024. See post on 25th January for details of the papers put forward to the Council Cabinet.
Closing the library will only save the Council £51,000 a year and will deprive the local community of a much-loved and well-used public service for ever.
See The Friends of Sanderstead Library information sheet below to find out more and the link to the consultation; a draft letter for our elected representatives: our flyer ‘they say, we say’; a link to the webinar held on 26th March 2024 on Community Libraries; a link to an Inside Croydon article about a petition which has over 2500 signatories.
Watch Phil Swallow’s YouTube Video – Save Sanderstead Library
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There is also a new Facebook page called ‘Save Sanderstead Library – Action Group’.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3253597738278543/
where you can read about Community Libraries, the Council’s Consultation and a statement from the Friends of Sanderstead Library sub group of the SRA.
The aim is to inform and stimulate action to save the library and building from Council’s cuts.
Please feel free to add to the debate by joining the conversation and reply to the Council’s consultation with a clear message.
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We will also post updates on our Sanderstead Residents’ Association Facebook page
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The Friends of Sanderstead Library have issued the following statement:
SANDERSTEAD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION STATEMENT – MARCH 2024
Save Sanderstead Library
Croydon Council has earmarked Sanderstead library for closure as part of a programme to change how library services are delivered. They are currently in the consultation phase (until April 19th), but say that when library services are removed from the building, they want the community to take over and run the building. If this does not happen, they will sell the building to the highest bidder.
Closing the library will only save the Council £51,000 a year and will deprive the local community of a much-loved and well-used public service for ever.
The Council argues that Croydon’s libraries are not as well used as some other areas. Even so, 10% of the population (approximately 40,000 people) are regular, loyal users. Given how little they spend on the libraries this represents excellent value for money for the Council.
Croydon cut its library budget by £300,000 in 2019 and £504,000 in 2022 and has failed to maintain and develop library buildings. Croydon spends less per head on its library service than any other London Borough. It ranks 22nd out of 33 London Boroughs in terms of libraries per head and ranks lower for spend and libraries per head when compared with many metropolitan areas of similar size outside of London.
Libraries in Croydon aren’t as well used as they could be because they have been starved of resources and the libraries budget cut to the bone. Most libraries are only open two or three days a week and most are not open on Saturdays which is the most popular day.
Sanderstead Library
Despite its reduced opening hours, Sanderstead library is very well used when compared with other libraries and highly valued. It is the only publicly owned building in the area.
A significant percentage of the population of Sanderstead is older and less physically mobile than most of the rest of the Borough. They are more likely to be lonely, socially isolated (predictors of poor mental health) and physically frail. They would not easily be able to travel to other libraries. A physical library is much more appropriate than the digital services the Council are suggesting. There is a growing number of young families in the area.
Closure of the library would mean that the building would be lost for ever for everyone in Sanderstead. Many of the Council’s other aims (more local services, preventative services, support to carers, public health interventions etc) would be thwarted without a local space to deliver those services from.
The priorities in Croydon’s Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy: good mental health and wellbeing for all; healthy safe and well-connected neighbourhoods and communities; supporting our children, young people and families; supporting our older population to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives; could be delivered in an enhanced library building in Sanderstead.
The library does need to have accessible toilet facilities and be more user friendly to families with small children and those with disabilities. In March of 2023, after consulting with local people, SRA put forward an Outline Business Case of how this could be achieved and funded. This document was submitted again in March 2023 and December 2023. Until the recent consultation they had no response from the Council to this document.
Elsewhere (a good example is Wenvoe library in Wales), modular buildings have been used to provide extra, more accessible spaces for libraries, allowing them to function as Community Hubs. These buildings can be installed in a matter of weeks and are very good value for money.
The Council says that it plans to develop libraries in South Norwood and New Addington as Community Hubs even though library usage there is much less than in Sanderstead. We accept that these areas have higher levels of deprivation than Sanderstead, but the population in Sanderstead has challenges too in terms of age, mobility, frailty etc and those people are entitled to a local service too. We feel the same work that is being put in by the Council and its partners to develop the hubs in South Norwood and New Addington should be put in to Sanderstead library.
Sanderstead Residents’ Association believes that:
Sanderstead residents deserve fair and equal access to local public services, including a library.
Croydon’s library budget should be increased to at least the London average. All libraries, as part of extended community hubs, should be open 5 or 6 days a week.
Capital monies from e.g. section 106 funds and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be used to improve and extend library buildings. This would enable a much broader range of services to be provided and facilities offered (see above for example Wenvoe library in Wales). This would encourage greater usage.
The Council should take a joined-up approach and bring in colleagues and resources from other Council departments such as education, public health, children and families, adult social care as well as colleagues from health and the voluntary sector to develop the offer at Sanderstead library. Enhanced library buildings should be used to support the Council to achieve the priorities in its key strategies such as the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy, Carers Strategy etc.
Local people should be genuinely involved in the oversight of these developments.
For the avoidance of doubt, Sanderstead Residents’ Association (SRA) itself has not expressed an interest in running a community library, nor taking on and running the building if it ceases to be run as a library by the Council.
What Can I Do to Help Save Sanderstead Library?
Write to the Mayor, mayor@croydon.gov.uk; your M.P. chris.philp.mp@parliament.uk;
your Councillors, yvette.hopley@croydon.gov.uk; lynne.hale@croydon.gov.uk; helen.redfern@croydon.gov.uk; and Cllr Stranack (the Cabinet member responsible for libraries) andy.stranack@croydon.gov.uk;
Take part in the consultation, feel free to use our notes above to help formulate your answers: https://www.getinvolved.croydon.gov.uk/libraries-services-consultation
As well as completing the online questionnaire, you can also send your ideas to: librariesconsultation@croydon.gov.uk.
Stay in touch with the SRA to let us know your views and see what we are doing to save the library. http://www.sanderstead-residents.co.uk ; follow us on Facebook.
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A DRAFT LETTER WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO USE AS A BASIS FOR YOUR LETTER TO OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. PLEASE PUT INTO YOUR OWN WORDS.
Dear
I am writing to you as my (MP CLLR etc) to ask what you are willing to do to prevent the closure of Sanderstead library.
Sanderstead library, along with three others in Croydon, is earmarked for closure as part of proposed changes to library services in the Borough. Closing the library will only save the Council £51,000 a year and will deprive the community of a vital public service and much loved building forever.
The Council argues that such closures are necessary because the current arrangements ‘are not working’ and because some libraries aren’t well used. Actually, Sanderstead library is very well used and the usage numbers are increasing as people get used to the services available post-Covid. The library is the only publicly owned building in the Sanderstead ward.
Footfall at the library has been increasing steadily since last year. July was particularly busy with a 53% increase. Between April and December last year 26,451 books were issued from Sanderstead library, putting it 3rd out of the thirteen libraries in Croydon. Given that the library isn’t open on a Saturday, this is an excellent use of a public resource.
Attendance at specific events has also increased by 83%. Rhymetimes being the most popular, with an increase of 169% compared with the previous year.
The real reason the library service isn’t working well in Croydon is because it has been starved of funding and the buildings neglected. Most libraries are only open two or three days a week and most are not open on Saturdays which is the most popular day.
The Council argue that the library budget is fixed and cannot be increased. I do not agree with this. It is the Council that sets the budget. They can choose to restore the libraries budget, although they would have to find these resources from other areas of Council spending.
Croydon cut its library budget by £300,000 in 2019 and £504,000 in 2022 and has failed to maintain and develop library buildings. It spends less per head on its library service than any other London Borough and ranks 22nd out of 33 London Boroughs in terms of libraries per head. Croydon ranks lower for spend and libraries per head when compared with many metropolitan areas of similar size outside of London.
Even so, 10% of the population (approximately 40,000 people) are regular, loyal users. Given how little they spend on libraries this represents excellent value for money for the Council.
The usage figures for libraries when schools aren’t open, for example during the school holidays are very high and increasing, indicating that if libraries are open when people want to use them usage increases.
Problems with the consultation
Many people are concerned that the consultation is not genuine. A model involving closure has been put forward and the online consultation allows only very limited and short answers, with little opportunity for people to make their own suggestions. The library service is being considered in a silo, separate from other Council services which could share the library building and contribute to its running. Why has this option not been put forward for consideration? People attending the public meetings have put forward very strong reasons to retain the library, but have become very distrustful of local politicians and officials.
Community run buildings
The Council say if library services are removed from the building, they want the community to take over and run the building. If this does not happen, they will sell the building to the highest bidder. The community has shown no interest in this option and most people think it is entirely unrealistic for the community to do this. Community groups can only run services in libraries if the libraries are retained and funded by the Council (this is the model at Norbury library for example).
Another fiction that the Council promotes is that community and voluntary groups have easy access to funds that can be used to run libraries/community hubs. Firstly, most grant making trusts will not fund something that they think is a statutory duty or that allows a public body to stop funding a public service. Secondly, as Council funding has reduced, competition for grant funding is much greater and grant funding is much harder to get. There is no evidence of any Croydon community or voluntary groups that have spare, unallocated funds that could be used to take on the building.
Moreover, the only models of community libraries that we have been shown that work are where there is considerable statutory funding for the buildings, volunteer co-ordinators etc.
If the Council stops funding the library, they know full well it will close and be sold.
Equalities issues
It appears that a proper Equalities Impact Assessment has not been completed.
A significant percentage of the population of Sanderstead is older and less physically mobile than most of the rest of the Borough. They have protected characteristics in terms of Equalities legislation. They are more likely to be lonely, socially isolated (predictors of poor mental health) and physically frail. They would not easily be able to travel to other libraries. A physical library is much more appropriate than the digital services the Council are suggesting. There is a growing number of young families in the area who are significant users of the library. Pregnancy and maternity is another protected characteristic which seems not to have been considered in relation to Sanderstead.
The library does need to have accessible toilet facilities and be more user friendly to families with small children and those with disabilities. In March of 2023, after consulting with local people, the local Residents’ Association put forward to the Council an Outline Business Case of how this could be achieved and funded. This document was submitted again in May 2023 and December 2023. Until the recent consultation they had no response from the Council to this document.
Elsewhere (a good example is Wenvoe library in Wales), modular buildings have been used to provide extra, more accessible spaces for libraries, allowing them to function as Community Hubs. These buildings can be installed in a matter of weeks and are very good value for money. The library site has ample room on the site for such a building (outline drawings were included in the document that the SRA submitted to the Council).
Lack of joined up thinking
Closure of the library would mean that the building would be lost for ever for everyone in Sanderstead. Many of the Council’s other aims (more local services, preventative services, support to carers, public health interventions etc) would be thwarted without a local space to deliver those services from.
The library and its grounds are highly valued by local people, not just as a library but as a local green space and as a building of architectural importance.
People from as far away as Hamsey Green consider this to be their local library as it is directly accessible by the 403 bus.
Many of the priorities in Croydon’s Health and Wellbeing Draft Strategy: good mental health and wellbeing for all; healthy safe and well-connected neighbourhoods and communities; supporting our children, young people and families; supporting our older population to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives; could be delivered in an enhanced library building in Sanderstead.
The Council says that it plans to develop libraries in South Norwood and New Addington as Community Hubs even though library usage there is much less than in Sanderstead. We accept that these areas have higher levels of deprivation than Sanderstead, but the population in Sanderstead has challenges too in terms of age, mobility, frailty etc and those people are entitled to a local service too. I feel the same work that is being put in by the Council and its partners to develop the hubs in South Norwood and New Addington should be put in to Sanderstead library.
The Solution
I believe that Sanderstead residents deserve fair and equal access to local public services, including a library and that Croydon’s library budget should be increased to at least the London average.
Capital monies from e.g. section 106 funds and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be used to improve and extend the library building. This would enable a much broader range of services to be provided and facilities offered (see above for example Wenvoe library in Wales). This would encourage greater usage.
The Council should take a joined-up approach and bring in colleagues and resources from other Council departments such as education, public health, children and families, adult social care as well as colleagues from health and the voluntary sector to develop the offer at Sanderstead library.
An enhanced library building should be used to support the Council to achieve the priorities in its key strategies such as the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy, Carers Strategy etc.
Local people should be genuinely and actively involved in the oversight of these developments.
I am sure that as local politician you want to represent the views of local people and protect and enhance highly valued local public services. The extent to which elected representatives fought to protect local services is something that the electorate will remember the next time they get the opportunity to vote.
I understand that Croydon has considerable financial challenges. But these difficulties were caused by politicians and bureaucrats. Sanderstead taxpayers should not suffer the loss of crucial public services as a result of the gross mismanagement of public finances.
I look forward to hearing from you about the actions you intend to take in order to prevent the closure of Sanderstead library and save this vital service for current and future generations.
Yours sincerely
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Save Sanderstead Library – We Say They Say points Flyer
Croydon Council has earmarked Sanderstead library for closure as part of a
programme to change how library services are delivered.
The Council are currently in the consultation phase (until April 19th), but say that if
library services are removed from the building, they want the community to take it
over and run it. If this does not happen, they will sell the site to the highest bidder.
Croydon has cut its library budget by more than £800,000 since 2019. Croydon
spends less per head on its library service than any other London Borough and has
fewer libraries per head than most of London and many metropolitan areas of
similar size outside of London.
The Council Says:
Some libraries aren’t as well used as they used to be.
We Say:
The main reason for this is because libraries aren’t open as often as they used to
be. In fact, Sanderstead library is very well used by a broad range of people.
The Council Says:
Too much money is tied up in library buildings.
We Say:
The non-staff costs of Sanderstead library are only £51,000 a year. To close a
library and lose for ever a much loved, well-used public asset for such meagre
savings makes no sense.
The Council Says:
Sanderstead library would need to have money spent on it for it to comply fully with
Equalities legislation.
We Say:
Yes, this is true, but the Council has capital money that can be used for this
purpose. Some areas have used modular buildings to provide extra accessible
space. These buildings are very cost effective and can be built in weeks
The Council Says:
New Addington and South Norwood libraries will be retained and developed as
Community Hubs even though library usage is much lower than in Sanderstead.
We Say:
Community Hubs are a very good idea. The same effort that is being put into New
Addington and South Norwood should be put into developing Sanderstead library
as a Community Hub. Although Sanderstead does not have the same levels of
deprivation as New Addington and South Norwood, its community does have
needs too in terms of old age, frailty, loneliness and isolation.
A Joined-Up Solution
Sanderstead library is the only publicly owned building in the area, it should not be
closed. It should be retained as a library and developed as a Community Hub.
The Council should increase its library budget to at least 2019 levels. Rather than
thinking of the library service in isolation, the Council should work across
departments and with health colleagues to access funds and other resources that
would meet the costs of the Community Hub.
The new Hub would be an ideal setting in Sanderstead for the Council and their
health colleagues to deliver a broad range of services to the community in line with
their strategic aims. For example, their Carers’ Strategy and their Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
What Can I Do to Help Save Sanderstead Library?
Spread the word to as many people as possible.
Write to the Mayor, mayor@croydon.gov.uk; your M.P. chris.philp.mp@parliament.uk;
your Councillors, yvette.hopley@croydon.gov.uk; lynne.hale@croydon.gov.uk;
helen.redfern@croydon.gov.uk; and Cllr Stranack (the Cabinet member responsible for libraries)
andy.stranack@croydon.gov.uk;
Take part in the consultation, feel free to use our points above to help formulate your answers:
https://www.getinvolved.croydon.gov.uk/libraries-services-consultation
As well as completing the online questionnaire, you can also send your ideas to:
librariesconsultation@croydon.gov.uk.
Stay in touch with the SRA to let us know your views and see what you could do to save the library: http://www.sanderstead-residents.co.uk: follow us on Facebook.
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Webinar 26 March 2024 – Exploring Community Libraries – organised by Croydon Council
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Transcript of comments made by participants during the webinar
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Northfields Community Library – powerpoint presentation
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PETITION – MARCH 2024
See today’s article by Inside Croydon below.
The petition is still collecting signatures and copies are in the Sanderstead Station shops and Elmfield Way Shops.
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photo from Historic England website, taken June 1936
Sanderstead Library to Close after 88 years on 8th November 2024
We are very sad to report that, despite all the efforts of the Residents’ Association and others to save our library, on the 25th September Cabinet voted for its closure. We gave evidence to the Scrutiny Committee and emailed all Cabinet members before they met. Since January of this year, the Residents’ Association has worked extremely hard to make the case for keeping the library open (you can read more about this in the current edition of Sanderstead News). We still believe that closing a well-used, much-loved library makes no sense. Our view is that the Council’s case for closure is weak and with creative thinking and proper partnership working with the local community the library could have been retained and enhanced.
The Council are saying that they would like interested parties who wish to use the building for community purposes to come forward. They are giving a guided tour of the building on 24th October. Committee members of the Residents’ Association will be attending this.
Sanderstead Residents' Association 