Slough Council Considers Closing Two Libraries Amid Budget Cuts

Slough Borough Council disclosed on Friday its consideration of budget proposals that could result in the closure of two libraries, Cippenham and Langley, located in Slough, Berkshire, starting next year. Should these plans be implemented, the total number of libraries within the town would be halved, with Britwell library and The Curve remaining open. In a statement, the council declared that sustaining all four libraries was “not affordable”. This disclosure occurs as the council is in the process of establishing its budget for the forthcoming year. The local authority had previously indicated it was confronting an “unprecedented magnitude” of cuts in its endeavor to save over £28 million. Draft savings proposals released last month suggested that library services would experience reductions. The council asserted that implementing no changes would pose “a risk to the council’s financial stability”. Under the new proposals, the council anticipates saving £135,000 through the closure of the two facilities and an additional £60,000 by eliminating two vacant staff positions. Operating hours at these two libraries were previously curtailed in a round of cuts between 2023 and 2024. At that time, the council stated that a review of library services had determined them to be “highly valued”. The council now contends that the closure of Cippenham Library, situated on Elmshott Lane, and Langley Library, located on Trelawney Avenue, will enable it to “improve” services in other locations. It stated that Britwell Library could potentially be staffed instead of functioning as self-service, and the allocation for new books would be distributed between two libraries rather than four. Council leaders are scheduled to deliberate on these proposals on 16 December. A public consultation period will then be conducted from 17 December to 25 February. All councillors will cast their votes on the definitive plans in spring 2025. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.