A beloved community learning hub in South Chingford, that has been running since 2012, is set to relocate due to its lease coming to an end.
After two years of insecurity, the self-funded library has been saved from permanently closing down.
Situated in north east London, the library is run by dedicated volunteers who are celebrating the success of staying for another year.
By next summer, the books will have a new home as the library has acquired a new location in a laundrette across the road, which offers much cheaper rent.
Although smaller in size, volunteers are hoping the transition will be smooth.
Richard Ashen, Trustee Chairman, 79, mentioned that there are concerns about the lease ending earlier than planned.
He said: “We’re half way between one place and another, and not many people are happy to be moving to a smaller environment, but we’re still alive.”
But not all residents are confident about the relocation. Clare Montgomery, 48, said: “We don’t want to move as the laundrette is smaller and we’re very comfortable here.”
Despite having an agreement with Waltham Forest Council for a fifteen-year lease, the council was unable to continue funding the organisation in 2022.
However, in 2024, the council agreed to renew the lease for an additional two years, provided that the volunteers independently source the second year’s rent through fundraising.
A new two year lease was issued, which ends in June 2026.
Volunteers have been working hard to raise money to fund the second half of the rent, as well as keeping the place running by paying the phone and electricity bills.
The privately owned three-storey building is rumoured to be turned into a commercial property, with the new landlord being opposed to the property continuing to serve as a community library.
Charli Withers, 16, who has been a volunteer since July, said that the process has been ‘stressful for the team’ but expressed that they are ‘optimistic about the move’.
The library hosts diverse socials open to all ages, such as knitting classes, a rhyme time group on Tuesday mornings for children, Wednesday afternoon poetry club, and a Friday ‘Steps Into Work’ programme which helps people find employment.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Conservative Party Leader, is the Patron of South Chingford Community Library. He has given an immense amount of support and defended the library during difficult times.
The library aims to make books as accessible as possible, with membership fees varying from £1 for the whole year to £5 for seven years, and lifetime membership from £10.
Books are priced from as little as 50p and the library are committed to not charging for overdue books.
Councils across the country have been cutting budgets for community spaces like libraries, that has resulted in long-term closures.
An article published by the House of Commons in May found that between 2016-2023, approximately 125 public libraries have been closed in England.
Featured image credit: Antonia Vlad
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