WARD councillors in Chafford Hundred are demanding a better library service for the town.

Following the closure of Chafford Hundred Campus school’s library to the public on May 26, Thurrock Council is operating a mobile library in the town for two hours a week.

But the council’s Conservative group wants the authority to reinstate the library in a council owned building in the town, or extend the opening hours of the mobile library to three half days a week.

Cllr Tunde Ojetola said: “Residents and ward councillors of Chafford Hundred are appalled by the Labour-run council’s refusal to reinstate Chafford Hundred Library.

“The council took the first step in closing the library last year by massively reducing the opening hours to three half days a week.

“This was done despite evidence Chafford Hundred Library is the third most used library in Thurrock with over 91,000 visits a year.”

Thurrock Council used to rent space in Chafford Hundred Campus’ school library.

The Labour cabinet had planned to close the library permanently, but relented after a passionate community campaign to save it.

It then announced plans to cut the opening hours down to just ten a week.

The governors at Chafford Hundred Campus were happy to allow their school library to be open to the public if the hours weren’t cut down so drastically, but the council was determined to press ahead.

Governors eventually decided it wasn’t feasible to open the library, staff it and run two separate computer systems if it was going to be open to the public just two hours a day and decided to have it as just a school library.

Cllr Ojetola added: “Blaming the Campus for the closure is not acceptable.

“This decision does not show a council that cares or is willing to listen to residents and rate payers.”

The Labour cabinet member for community culture and leisure, Lynn Worrall, said: “Relaunching a library or opening one in a new location is a very complicated business.

“You can’t simply have a room with thousands of books in it.

“I have now contacted Cllr Ojetola and I am sure we will have discussions on this issue over the next few weeks.”