Essential repairs and refurbishment works are being delivered at Chislehurst Library, including an expanded children’s library and a new public toilet, with the site now closed until summer 2025.
A temporary library will open on 16 December at Hornbrook House on Chislehurst High Street, giving a warm welcome to residents in the run up to Christmas. In the interim period some activities will be provided from local church halls, with further details to come. Festive puzzles and easy craft activities will then be available at pop-in sessions throughout this period at the temporary site. Alongside the enhanced children’s library and new public toilet with baby changing facilities, works will include an improved accessible entrance and the windows being replaced.
This news follows wider progress on the £11m Bromley libraries repair programme with the closure of Burnt Ash Library earlier this autumn, which is expected to reopen early next year. Beckenham Library refurbishment is also approaching completion and will open early next year, with the temporary library at Lewis House still available for residents in the meantime.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Member for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said:
“This important programme is now in full swing as we deliver these essential works across our much-loved library network, with a further temporary library also helping ensure residents have convenient library access across the borough over the festive period. Despite ongoing financial challenges across local government, we have prioritised this programme to protect the vital services we deliver through our libraries.”
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the charitable social enterprise who operate Bromley’s libraries, are working in partnership with the council to temporarily relocate the Chislehurst library and continue library service across the borough during the repair programme.
Refurbishment works have already been completed at St Paul’s Cray and Southborough libraries, with Southborough reopening over the summer and local residents now able to enjoy the enhanced facilities. Orpington Library will be the next library to close for refurbishment early next year, with more information to come to in due course.
Find out more about the wider programme at www.bromley.gov.uk/LibraryRepairProgramme.
