HOPES that have been pinned on Harrow council look set to be dashed as a library remains closed for the foreseeable future.

Campaigners hoping to save North Harrow library, which saw its shutters pulled down earlier this year thanks to council cuts, say they feel it is unlikely it will reopen this year.

Members of the North Harrow Community Partnership and library supporters submitted a business plan to Harrow Council in a bid to reopen the library as a community-run centre, which the council had said they were seriously considering.

But months down the line, the shutters remain pulled and the door remains closed – leaving campaigners wondering if it will ever be reopened.

Kamal Shah, chairman of the North Harrow Community Partnership, said: “The council is dragging its feet and putting unnecessary, unrealistic obstacles in our way.

“We have nearly 40 volunteers ready to work in the library, to whom we can’t give any idea when we will open.

“During last year’s budget cuts consultation, community engagement were the buzz words, but very little has been translated into action.

“There appears to be no commitment from the leadership of Harrow council - they need to decide, do they want this project to succeed. If not, don’t string the residents along.”

Although libraries were due to close in May under the council’s library plans, this was extended to June 13 to allow campaigners more time to establish a business plan and submit their applications.

Despite the council saying the North Harrow steering group had submitted a positive application, the library was still closed in June.

A Harrow council spokesman said: “We want to see the library open to the community as soon as possible and have been working closely with North Harrow library group so that this much loved library can once again open it’s doors.

“We are currently waiting on the landlords consent and terms and conditions on the running of the library to be signed before it can open. All book stock, shelving and furniture is already available so we anticipate the library to open soon.”

The libraries were selected for closure following a public consultation launched by Harrow Council, which revealed that 71.48 per cent of responses objected to any closures taking place.

However the council say they had to find £83 million of cuts to their recent budget, and therefore voted to close the four libraries.