A LIBRARY under threat from the council’s plans to relocate it has been given a major boost after it was made an asset of community value.

The council confirmed its decision to campaigners fighting to save Hale End Library, in Highams Park, in a letter on Tuesday (September 27).

Highams Park Planning Group (HPPG) put in an application to the council in early August asking the council to make the beloved library an asset of community value.

As an asset of community value, the community, led by the HPPG, could raise the money to buy the library if the council did decide to sell it off.

The council recently decided to defer the plan to relocate Hale End Library to smaller premises in Signal Walk, near the Tesco superstore.

More than 5,000 people signed online and paper petitions in opposition to the plans, with a further 1,100 people joining a Save Highams Park Library Facebook group.

Chair of HPPG, which has more than 1,000 members, Gordon Turpin, 60, said its new status is extremely important for the people in the area.

He added: "It is important to show them how much the community values it.

“It is definitely a step in the right direction.

“We want the council to work with the community to help make the best out of the library.”

The community now has one year before the council evaluates the situation and its original plan to relocate the library.