Wood Street Library, one of the largest public buildings in the borough, stands as a cornerstone of our community.

Our library is well used by local residents of all ages, plus several local schools, to enjoy books and magazines, improve literacy and knowledge, get online, engage with community activities and make friends, and enhance health and wellbeing.

In a diverse community, our library brings us together. It means so much to so many people. It is a vital local asset.

The Council is consulting on plans to sell the building and move the library to premises two thirds smaller on the, as yet unbuilt, Marlowe Road Estate. This is at a time when the Council's own evidence shows the population of Waltham Forest is set to increase substantially over the next decade.

We believe it makes no sense to provide smaller library space to a growing population.

We are extremely concerned that the evidence used to support this consultation is flimsy and inaccurate and that the Council have failed to consider alternative options for our substantial community building.  

The choice residents are being given is stark: agree to the sell off or make use of a space which has been deemed unfit for purpose by the Council's own asset management team.

We recognise the council have difficult budgetary decisions to make, but we know that selling our library is no solution.

Once it is sold, it is gone forever.

We strongly believe residents, local businesses and community groups deserve more options about how to improve the current site and make this incredible space into a library fit for the 21st Century.

You can find out more about Waltham Forest Council's plans here:

https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/content/library-and-information-service-review

If you believe Waltham Forest Council should halt their plans to sell Wood Street Library please sign our petition before it's too late.