Step forward for £4m library plans

Friday, 13 July 2012

By Suzi Muston

PLANS for a £4million library for Rainham have one final hurdle to go through next week.
Havering Council’s cabinet is expected to approve today (Wednesday) a funding package that will allow the building work to go ahead.
Council chiefs believe the library will make a strong contribution to improve the area and quality of life for local people.
The project stalled temporarily when the Government decided to wind-up the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), which was the development partner for the project.
The work of the LTGDC has now moved across to the Mayor of London’s office, which has allocated £2.2m to the project.
The cabinet meeting will decide whether to allocate a further £1.8m.
Councillor Michael Armstrong, cabinet member with responsibility for the project, said the money could be recouped by the sale of 16 residential flats and the lease of shops that make up the site. He said without these, the scheme could not go ahead.
If cabinet approves the funding, a final decision will be taken by a vote of the full council at its next meeting on July 18.
Mr Armstrong added: “A new library and lifelong learning centre is a cornerstone of our Rainham Compass project.
“It’s been a frustrating time while the project was held up, first by the recession and then by the change of responsibility, but now we’re closing in on a deal to make it happen.”

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