Proposals to close four of Ealing's libraries have been halted in a surprise announcement made by the Council Leader Julian Bell this evening (14 June) but the mobile service will still shut.

Thousands of residents signed petitions to keep Northfields,Northolt, Perivale and Hanwell Libraries open and many turned out tonight to show their support at the Town Hall.

Labour Leader Councillor Julian Bell announced that the closure threat would be halted and (on twitter) said that Ealing Labour Councillors 'will volunteer to help run our libraries and keep them open.'

This statement has just been released from Cllr Ranjit Dheer

Consultation

''I very much welcome the chance to respond to these petitions. Let me start by saying that we have listened very carefully to what residents have had to say about the library service and their comments have informed our library strategy which will come to Cabinet in July.

''The library strategy will not propose the closure of any of our libraries. In order to secure the libraries for the long term it will recommend continuing to pursue community management and other alternative models of service delivery.

''We stated at the beginning of this process that we wished to consult with residents about how they feel a modern library service should be delivered. The responses have shown that people value their local libraries. They have also shown that there is a genuine local desire to become more involved with local libraries as volunteers and through community groups.