A DECISION on whether to close two libraries in deprived areas must be postponed, according to campaigners.

Cabinet is due to rubberstamp a shake-up of the library service on October 11, which would see facilities in south Chingford and Harrow Green in Leytonstone shut down to save £1 million.

But a group of councillors recently concluded that information provided to justify the closures was flawed.

And campaigners in Leytonstone have gathered more than 4,000 signatures on a petition calling for Harrow Green to be saved, which automatically triggers a full council debate on the issue.

Alternative plans are being drawn up to make efficiency savings while keeping all libraries open.

Cllr Jemma Hemsted, who has been working to keep a library service in south Chingford and also sits on the panel which criticised the process, said the decision should be delayed ‘in the interests of democracy’.

“The issues are obviously causing quite a lot of heartache. People are very worried,” she said.

“The whole idea of a consultation is to take into account people's opinion.”

Ros Kane, who has campaigning to save Harrow Green, said: “Our petition should force the council to meet and debate on the issue, unless they would be going against their word.

“I cannot see how the council can accept the closures with this weight of strong opinion. It doesn't make sense to a lot of people.”

A scrutiny panel recently reported that cabinet was given insufficient information on visitor numbers and alternative proposals when it agreed to the closures.

The changes will also see opening hours extended and more services provided at other libraries.

The Guardian is awaiting a statement from the council.

NEGOTIATIONS over the sale of former council offices have entered the final stages.

The Guardian understands the local authority has received dozens of offers from property developers for the site in The Ridgeway, Chingford, which recently went on the market.

But the council has declined to reveal which company it is set to do a deal with, describing the information as 'commercially sensitive'.

An announcement is due to made on October 6.

The Ridgeway building closed in 2007 and the council was criticised by unions and Conservatives for renting office space elsewhere.

Local Tories also raised fears the sale was another example of the council abandoning the area, following the closure of the public toilets, the Waltham Forest Direct shop and the proposed closure of south Chingford Library.

But the authority has reviewed the future of all its properties as it strives to save £65 million following a cut in government funding.

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