Watford MP Matt Turmaine is urging residents to sign a petition against plans to shut Watford Central Library on Sundays. Hertfordshire County Council’s Liberal Democrat administration is proposing to end Sunday opening at six libraries across the county, including the branch opposite The Horns pub in the town centre.
Under the plans, the library’s current Sunday slot of 1pm to 5pm would be axed. A final decision rests with the council’s all-Liberal Democrat cabinet, which includes Mayor Peter Taylor and meets on 15 July. The changes form part of a wider savings drive to close a £55 million funding gap in 2026-27, driven in part by the Government’s Fair Funding Review, which will strip up to £42 million in annual grants from the county by 2028-29.
The other libraries facing Sunday closure are in Bishop’s Stortford, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Stevenage Central, and Welwyn Garden City Central. All 46 of the county’s libraries would continue to operate six days a week. The council’s executive member for resources and performance, Cllr Chris Lucas, has said the move would also “bring consistency across the library service”, while emphasising the authority’s legal duty to deliver a comprehensive and efficient network.
Labour councillors have called for the decision-making process to be paused and subjected to greater cross-party scrutiny. Cllr Ian Albert, Labour’s spokesperson for resources and performance, described the consultation as flawed. The petition, organised by the Labour Party, remains open for signatures at survey.labour.org.uk/keepourlibraryopen.
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