The Labour Cabinet has passed a report stating about Carnegie Library that the: “Building operates well as a library however its location is not ideal and suffers from low service numbers, high maintenance and high running costs. High running costs and poor location suggest this facility should be closed and relocated to Herne Hill. This property would be ideal for sale for a private residential flat conversion.”

We believe poor use of the library is due to inadequate resources provided for Library services. Since 2006 Labour Lambeth has failed to make sufficient funding available to ensure that the Library can operate effectively. Last winter several libraries were closed because of broken boilers which the Council had not provided funding to maintain

The plan to re-locate the library to Herne Hill is a pipedream. No sites in Herne Hill have been identified for housing the Library. Space is at a premium in an inner-city borough like Lambeth.  The council is currently failing to find sites for much needed primary schools in Herne Hill  – where will they find space for a Library?

Given the appalling state of Lambeth finances even with the sale of Carnegie Library the funds will not be available to build a new Library.

Labour is once again considering selling off the Carnegie for private flats. This puts the future of the library in doubt and will produce an outcry in the local community. The plan to provide another library in Herne Hill is a pipedream. Whether it is local primary schools or libraries Labour just doesn’t seem to really care. Local residents will suffer because of Labour Lambeth’s financial mismanagement.

Local conservatives are campaigning to stop Labour Lambeth closing Carnegie Library and selling it off for private flats.

According to a National Audit report 1000 council properties are being left vacant resulting in GBP3.5m in lost rental revenues each year. Lambeth Labour are opposed to selling off these properties but are willing to sell off the Carnegie Library.

From 1998-99 local conservatives worked with other local community groups to save the Carnegie Library from being closed by the then Labour administration.

To join our campaign to save Carnegie Library again sign our online petition on the Campaigns page of this website.

The document can be downloaded from Lambeth’s website  here: