The clock is ticking on a possible move for the troubled Colliers Wood library.

The run down Donald Hope Library on the High Street has been blighted by flooding and fly tipping, and earlier this year Merton’s library chief said the council was looking to find a new location for it.

But this week the council said a move had still not been confirmed. For the authority to break its lease on the building, it would have to tell the library’s current landlord it plans to leave by the end of November.

In June, Ingrid Lackajis, the council’s head of library and heritage services, told the Colliers Wood community forum a move was “desirable”.

In a report of the meeting, forum chair councillor Sheila Knight said: “Some options, such as using portable buildings in Colliers Wood Park, are impractical, and others – the Savacentre site and St George’s Court - have fallen through when the landowner pulled out of negotiations.”

She said the service was looking at the now empty Rainbow Nursery building on the High Street, which could be converted with two months work and was the community’s favourite choice.

But on Monday Councillor Samantha George, deputy leader of Merton Council, said a move was not a foregone conclusion.

She said: "The council is very keen to find the best possible options for the many residents that use the library and its facilities in Colliers Wood.

"At this stage we are considering options with the owner of the building as we want to ensure the service stays central to the area.

“Other site options are also being investigated so that either way we can put the needs of our residents in Colliers Wood first.

"No decisions have been taken at this time and the council's enforcement team is dealing with the issue of fly tipping."

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