Members of a library have been reassured by the council it remains safe from closure after plans for its relocation were scrapped.

Thousands of campaigners signed a petition against the relocation of Hale End Library before Waltham Forest Council backtracked on the plans last July.

In April, families gathered in their droves for the Love Hale End Library Day to support the campaign to increase the library’s use.

The council are set to confirm the U-turn on the plans to move the library from Castle Avenue, Higham’s Park to a smaller premises in Signal Walk, in an upcoming report.

Cllr Ahsan Khan, who became the cabinet member for libraries in May, said: “I can say that my position remains that Hale End library will not be moved and this will be confirmed in the report due to be presented to cabinet in December.

“We remain committed to continuing work with the local community to build on their involvement in the development of the existing library, and to maintaining the current level of service."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Love Hale End Library Day kicks off in Highams Park

The plans for the move were part of the council’s wider vision for the Library Local scheme aimed at turning community libraries into “multi-purpose hubs”.

Green Party member Robert Tatam of Hatch Lane, Chingford, praised Higham’s Park Planning Group and Higham’s Park Forum for “leading this energetic non-party-political campaign”.

He added: “Their subsequent engagement with council officers to explore ways of maximising the use of the library as a community hub should be strongly commended.

“The decision not to relocate the library in Higham’s Park is partly the result of the council listening to the concerns of Higham’s Park residents, as expressed through demonstrations in support of their library and through the rapid collection of a considerable number of signatures.”