The Canada Water Library, which as already gone over budget by almost £6 million, is to cost a further £634,000 this year alone. The total cost of the building now stands at almost £15 million, nearly three times as much as the award-winning Peckham Library.

Since early last year, Southwark Labour councillors have raised concerns that the Lib Dem’s failure to get a grip on the cost of the new library at Canada Water could mean that there is less money to spend on new leisure facilities for the area. The existing leisure centre in Rotherhithe, Seven Islands, has suffered from chronic underinvestment and was closed a number of times last year because of the rotting fabric of the building.

Southwark Labour’s Regeneration spokesperson, Cllr Chris Page said:

“The Lib Dems have completely lost control of the overspend on Canada Water Library. It has not only eaten-up the money that was supposed to be spent on new leisure facilities in Rotherhithe, but is now sucking in money that should be spent on other services across the borough, like recycling and social care. The Peckham Library cost almost three times less and is multi-award winning for its architecture.”