At a Glance
- Concerns raised over plans that could close Southchurch Library.
- Council budget proposes £350,000 to move library provision to Southend Adult College.
- Repair costs for the existing library estimated at £250,000 in a council report.
- Questions raised about whether closure represents a false economy.
- Petition launched with nearly 400 signatures supporting the library.
Ihave read the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent Group’s draft budget for 2026/27 and I had to re-read it several times to see if what I saw was correct regarding Southchurch Library.
Buried deep in the report is £350,000 earmarked for Southend Adult College that would see the closure of Southchurch Library and the so-called ‘provision’ moved somewhere into their building, alongside a hairdresser’s for an apprenticeship programme.
Is It Truly Beyond Repair?
It is worth comparing this figure with the £250,000 estimate to repair the Southchurch Library building, as per the 2023 report carried out for the council. Members of the administration said Southchurch Library is “beyond repair” and “at the end of its life”, but the only thing in the report, by the report’s own definition, was the hot water heater at a cost of £2K.
I put in an FOI request to the council and was sent a council report that reviewed the condition of Southchurch Library and broke down just where the £250K figure came from. It is, of course, open to interpretation, and there will be those who fully accept the estimates provided and whether the work should be carried out as necessary, but it goes as follows:
The carpet and vinyl flooring had some “wear and tear”, and the staff kitchen could do with replacing as it “looks dated” – all for £10K; they would set aside £30K to replace the fluorescent strip lighting with LEDs; £20K to replace a few fire-resistant doors; £20K to take out an unused sanitary incinerator in the staff toilet; £30K to repair the pavement outside the building; and £15K as “consideration should be given to replace the fibreboard ceiling as it is in fair condition”.
I could be wrong, but it appears as though the £250K could be halved, at the very least. Either that, or the proposed repairs would see Southchurch Library transformed into the Ritz!
Savings or False Economy?
Perhaps they might point to savings via operational costs with the inevitable sacking of two librarians and the general upkeep of the building, but I would argue this is all minuscule compared with the £94 million capital budget and £437 million revenue budget.
Why am I being so pedantic over Southchurch Library? Because, as a resident of Southend all my life, I have witnessed the disappearance of many facilities, including my very favourite, Warrior Square swimming pool. Boy, could we do with a destination location that would bring people to Southend High Street – a couple of skate ramps just don’t seem to be doing the trick.
Other notable disappearances include: Thorpe Bay High School; South East Essex College; Southend Library; and now we will be enduring the reckless decision to fill in the Queensway underpass to avoid paying a £15 million grant back.
Hospital Demolition Plans Spark Alarm
And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, they announce their desire to demolish Southend Hospital, proclaiming it, just as they did with Southchurch Library, to be “at the end of its life”. This, of course, is just a carrot to win our approval to build 10,000 unaffordable houses on green belt land by Bournes Green as they reckon they could conjure billions of pounds to build a new hospital on that land.
We cannot go on like this. How about we maintain our buildings rather than pull them down? How about asking Southend residents what we want before making these bold moves?
Given that, even after 50 years of standing, Southchurch Library is, by the definition of their own council report, not at the end of its life, I put in an FOI to the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust to find out the true state of repair, which confirmed that Southend Hospital is not at the end of its life and that no one has suggested otherwise in the Trust.
Are Other Libraries at Risk?
Lastly, if the council are proposing that “moving provision” is not closing libraries, then are all the other libraries in Southend under the same threat of closure?
With nearly 400 signatures backing to save Southchurch Library, I am not on my own. The petition is open until March, so if you haven’t signed it, here is the link:
https://shorturl.at/NkMRU
The Southchurch Library report can be found:
https://shorturl.at/1zx9X
By James Miller
Southend Confelicity Party Leader