Crofton Park Library: Photo: Francesca Babaoye

Businessman Darren Taylor has been given the go-ahead to take control of three Lewisham libraries.

Crofton Park, Sydenham and Grove Park will now be taken over by his organisation, Eco Computer Systems, which was given the go ahead to run the libraries at a council meeting last week.

Lewisham Council had planned to close all five libraries in the borough to save money, but have instead decided to hand over three.

Mr Taylor, a former employee of computer giant Dell, said he plans to make the libraries better by offering employment, more activities and making them accessible for all.

Opening and closing times will remain the same and they will no longer close for lunch.

He posted on Twitter: “My aims are to have a full running library and employ a library manager, setup a charity with local residents on the steering group.”

However George Hallam, a member of a political party Lewisham People Before Profit, has a different perception of the council’s decision.

A banner to celebrate Crofton library staying open. Photo: Francesca Babaoye

Mr Hallam attended a demonstration Lewisham town hall, Catford against the council’s decision to pass on five of its libraries as a part of cost cutting.

He told East London Lines: ‘The demonstration is to arouse public awareness to get people to see what is really going on.”

He said there are a number of classic books which Lewisham libraries no longer hold because they have been given away to the new providers.

Blackheath library will also stay open and now be run by the Age Exchange charity, but the future for New Cross library and many others still remains unclear.

All plans regarding the running of the libraries will be put into action from the 31st May, 2011.