A COLCHESTER councillor has said people in the south of the city are missing out after the temporary closure of Colchester’s central library.

Analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows 68 per cent of Colchester residents do not have a library within a 15-minute walk of their home.

However, this data was collected in August 2024 – before Colchester Library in Trinity Square temporarily closed for refurbishment from September 2 to summer 2025.

The figures also show Colchester had seven open libraries as of August, or one for every 28,100 people in the area.

Councillor Lee Scordis has penned an open letter to Essex County Council asking for additional mobile library availability while Colchester Library is being renovated. 

He said: “My residents who live in Rowhedge said there’s no bus going to Greenstead station for them.

“A lot of people in the south of Colchester have been hit because of the temporary closure of Colchester Library.

“If Essex County Council believes in the power of the libraries, then it must be look into a new unit.”

Buses - Councillor Lee Scordis also said that buses go through the city centre this would allow those in full-time work to drop off or collect books from here in the evening. Buses - Councillor Lee Scordis also said that as all buses go through the city centre a temporary unit there would be more accessible (Image: Submitted)

Mr Scordis said that a temporary shop unit could be used to help house services – including IT services, printing, and being a warm space - while the main library is closed.

He also suggested the mobile library on Colchester High Street, which is only open for two days a week and during work hours, could have its hours extended, however added that he has been told this is “not doable”.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “While the closure is in place, we have extended the opening hours at nearby Wivenhoe, Prettygate and Greenstead libraries.

"Staff who normally work at Colchester Library have been redeployed to support these extended opening hours. Digital support for residents will continue to be offered from these alternative locations, with staff and volunteers on hand to support residents.

“During the closure, the mobile library is also visiting Colchester High Street.

"Unfortunately, due to previous incidents of antisocial behaviour and vandalism at Colchester Library, we do not feel it is appropriate to have the mobile library open in the evenings.

"As staff are working at other library sites in the area, they are not available to run a ‘pop-up’ site in the city centre either."