Libraries among casualties in boroughs
CROYDON: total service cuts just short of £36 million include a £1 million cut in the youth service, threatening several youth centres. Fairfield Halls theatre, the cultural centre of Croydon, faces a £300,000 (30 per cent) cut in its grant.
ISLINGTON: Mencap Pathway project, which helps residents with learning disabilities, will have its grant slashed by £42,158, threatening its future. St Ann's Centre is closing, resulting in 85 day care centre places for the elderly. Clubs for pensioners will serve 186 fewer lunches each week
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA: cuts last year led to the withdrawal of all subsidised places at Maxilla, Colville and Swinbrook nurseries and the closure of Earl's Court advice centre. There are proposals for a further £147,000 being cut from local youth services.
SOUTHWARK: local parks are likely to degenerate with a proposed £1 million cut in grants. The Royal Road Daycare Centre and Rockingham Nursery have closed. Several other nurseries are under threat.
WESTMINSTER: arts funding is to be slashed, and the Arts Unit, providing research and learning facilities, is to be abolished. The mobile-library service and a free taxi service for the elderly will be hit by an £8 million cut to the social services budget. Eight public lavatories in central London will also be closed.
