Ewell Court saved in County Library U-Turn

News that the future of the Library at Ewell Court House is secure was welcomed today by Cllr Nigel Pavey, who is treasurer of the Friends of Ewell Court Library. He said: "Those who worked so hard arranging a meeting with the Libraries chief and organising the petition against closure are to be congratulated. Everyone who uses the library will feel so relieved to know that this important community facility has been reprieved."

The news broke on Tuesday afternoon at the Executive meeting of Tory-led Surrey County Council, when it was decided that at least four of the six libraries at threat across Surrey would be retained. The future of the other two is still uncertain.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, Cllr Hazel Watson was at the meeting. She welcomed the abandonment of plans to close four libraries, saying: "I am pleased that proposals to close the libraries in Hersham, Caterham Hill, Ewell Court and New Haw are to be abandoned. However, it is regrettable that the libraries in Bagshot and Virginia Water are still under threat."

Hazel Watson added: "The Liberal Democrats have stated all along that local libraries must be protected from closure. Local libraries are highly valued by their local communities. The Conservative proposal to close six libraries in Surrey was misguided from the start and has caused considerable concern to Surrey residents that should have been avoided."