The Edmonton and Winchmore Hill MP has written to the leader of Enfield Council with her concerns around the library closures plan

Edmonton and Winchmore Hill MP Kate Osamor has become the third local MP to oppose Enfield Council’s library closures plan – saying the impact on her constituents would be “significant”.

A consultation on the council’s plan to close eight libraries across the borough is currently ongoing and Osamor said she had written directly to Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil to explain her concerns.

In Osamor’s Edmonton and Winchmore Hill constituency, John Jackson Library and Winchmore Hill Library would both be affected. John Jackson in Bush Hill Park doubles as an office for Age UK Enfield, with some of its services and activities being run from the library building.

Osamor said: “The impact on our community, including organisations like Age UK Enfield, which operates out of John Jackson Library in Bush Hill Park, would be significant.

“If these closures proceed, the services provided by Age UK Enfield could be severely impacted or even become unavailable. This would directly affect older residents who rely on the library as a hub for accessing vital advice, support, and community activities. It would limit their access to crucial resources, including health and wellbeing programs, befriending services, and dementia support, increasing the risk of isolation and reducing the overall quality of care available to older people in our community.”

Osamor follows both Enfield North MP Feryal Clark and Southgate and Wood Green MP Bambos Charalambous in opposing the council’s new libraries strategy. Clark said she was “extremely disappointed” about the plans which she said would “impact vulnerable communities”, while Charalambous said it would “exacerbate the borough’s loss of community venues”.

In its consultation the council has said that it would listen to alternative ideas for its library service that would deliver a similar level of savings, of between £580,000 and £630,000 per year.

In a debate last month Chinelo Anyanwu, cabinet member for environment, culture, and public spaces, told the civic centre: “We must run a sustainable service, within the resources we have.

“After £228million worth of savings made since 2010, thanks to central government cuts and their [Conservative] party, it has become harder and harder. 

“This administration has protected our libraries and run a higher than average number compared to neighbouring boroughs.” 

Take part in the council consultation on libraries before 14th November:
Visit enfield.gov.uk/consultations/library-consultation

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