Enfield Council has confirmed it will close seven libraries across the borough after the controversial cost-cutting measure was approved by Labour councillors.
Seven Libraries to Shut Despite Public Outcry
The closures, which will take effect later this year, will impact:
- Southgate Library
- Winchmore Hill Library
- John Jackson Library (Bush Hill Park)
- Bullsmoor Library
- Enfield Highway Library
- Bowes Road Library
- Enfield Island Library
Oakwood Library, which was initially set for closure, will remain open following a public consultation that saw 2,400 responses.
Enfield Council argues that the move will save up to £560,000 per year in staffing and operational costs, while the sale of the library buildings could generate between £3m and £3.85m.
Political Disagreement Over Closures
The decision has sparked strong criticism from opposition Conservative councillors, who claim the cuts are unnecessary and harmful to communities.
Southgate ward councillor Elisa Morreale condemned the closures, stating:
“Despite the overwhelming negative response to the consultation, Enfield’s Labour group are steaming ahead with this anyway.
Fellow Conservative councillor Chris Joannides added that the closure of Southgate Library had been one of the biggest issues in his casework over recent months.
Winchmore Hill councillor Lee Chamberlain accused Labour of misrepresenting the closure as an ‘improvement’ in library services while failing to address the financial mismanagement that led to the decision.
However, Labour councillors defended the move, insisting that it was driven by economic necessity.
Councillor Doug Taylor pointed out that Enfield has more council-run libraries than neighbouring boroughs, including Haringey (9), Waltham Forest (8), and Barnet (14). He argued that sustained funding cuts from central government made the closures unavoidable:
“From 2010 onwards, we not only kept our libraries, we had more—16 in total—but we have to accept that year-on-year, the financial situation of the council has been reduced because of government cuts.”
Council leader Ergin Erbil went further, blaming 14 years of Conservative-led government for the funding shortfall. He accused Tory councillors of hypocrisy, stating:
“They door-knocked for austerity. They door-knocked for public services to be decimated across our country. Take everything they say with a pinch of salt.”
What’s Next?
Despite the council’s commitment to maintaining services at “strategic locations”, campaigners argue that closing seven libraries will significantly impact access to books, study spaces, and community programs—especially for children and older residents.
Local residents who oppose the closures are being urged to continue lobbying their councillors and explore alternative funding solutions to keep the affected libraries open.
For now, Enfield’s library network will shrink by almost half, marking a major shift in the borough’s public service landscape.
