Further to the feedback received about Kent Libraries, Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Community & Regulatory Services, Clair Bell, has released the following statement to clarify the current position:

“Despite the unprecedented and well-documented financial pressures the council is facing, there are no plans currently underway to close libraries across the county.

“We are continuing, as we have in the past, to monitor and review KCC library services to ensure they are sustainable in the future, looking at all the options. For example, the potential for sharing premises with other services, such as post offices or adult education, as happens now in some locations.

“Building condition, maintenance costs and usage are all factors to consider, as is the spread of libraries across the county. We will explore some initial work with parish councils who have expressed interest in running a library, and how they might be supported to do so.

“Any changes to the library service would involve full public consultation. However, at present there are no proposals to reduce the number of libraries available to Kent residents.”