Published: Friday, 3rd August 2018

The temporary library will open its doors in the coming weeks. In the meantime Plumstead Library continues to welcome visitors as normal.

The temporary library, which will be housed on part of the Abery Street car park, will ensure local children and residents can access all their library services while work continues on the historic Plumstead Library.

Closing to allow improvement works to begin

This ambitious redevelopment involves the demolition of the non-listed extension to the rear and creating a two-storey facility for the provision of leisure facilities, public realm improvement works and cycle parking.

The on-going building programme meant it was not safe for staff or customers to keep using facilities at the original library until work is completed in autumn 2019.

Plumstead Library will close towards the end of summer, and its store of books and computer terminals will be boxed and transported across to the temporary library.

'Committed to ensuring library services remain available'

Miranda Williams, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and the Third Sector, said: "The Council is committed to ensuring library services remain available to Plumstead residents throughout the period of construction work. The Abery Street site was the only feasible site available and I'm delighted that local people will be able to access the services they want with a minimal break in operation."

The car park will remain operational while the temporary library is in place and will provide parking for 12 cars, including one disabled parking bay.

Councillor Sizwe James, Cabinet Members for Growth and Strategic Development said: "We hope that this move will be positive news for local businesses. In June 2018, Plumstead Library had 3,381 visitors and so moving the library to this more central location should have a positive impact on footfall for local businesses."

Any items due back on the moving days will be carried over, so there won't be any fines for not returning items on the dates the library is closed. A further announcement will be made on the date of the opening of the temporary library.

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