CAMPAIGNERS trying to save a library from closure say savings figures quoted by council officials are out by around £50,000.

Hampstead Garden Suburb Library is the only one facing total closure in Barnet Council’s strategic review, with facilities in Friern Barnet and North Finchley being rolled together.

According to the detailed review it would save £138,311 to close the service, with the cost-per-loan calculated at £6.77. The service needs to save £1.8m over three years.

However, a group looking to save the small Hill Rise site says the actual saving will be around £90,000, dropping the average cost-per-loan to £4.46.

Neville Silver, who lives in Maurice Walk, said: “It seems the council officers jhave just divided certain figures by 16 in their calculations, which is the number of libraries in the borough.

“Hmpstead Garden Suburb is the smallest library by a long way, so to say closing it would save the same in administration costs as somewhere like Hendon Library seems absurd.

“The figure of £6.77 is unrealistic, wrong and completely misleading. They can’t make a decision based on these figures. “ Under council plans the libraru would close down and could be replaced by a self-service facility based at The Institue in East Finchley.

Debbie Warland, another campaigner, said that option would still cost money and losing the library would be a huge blow to the young and old in the area.

She said: “A lot of people use this. It gives the elderly a place to come together as a community and there are always children in there on the internet. There are after-school clubs and children’s reading groups as well.

“There is a perception only affluent people live in this area, but there are a lot of life-long residents who don’t have much money.

“We do have a real sense of community here, but stripping out the library would damage that. “ Hundreds of people have signed a paper and online petition against the plans.

But Councillor Robert Rams said the review was not based just on price, but a range of other factors.

He told the Times Series: “Unlike many other councils in London we haven’t just tried to close buildings that carry the greatest cost per book lent – rather we have had a wide ranging review on how we can use our library service to promote literacy and support communities.

“But within that context there is no getting away from the fact that the current HGS library service carries much the highest cost per book lent - and is the smallest and least-used branch in Barnet. Mr Silver can ignore rent costs. I cannot because it has to be paid.

“But I genuinely welcome any response to our consultation – I think we have a well thought out plan for supporting reading in the borough and hope as many residents as possible have their say."