The deadline is looming to sign a petition to ‘save The Curve’ venue in Slough from possible closure.

Slough Borough Council leaders agreed earlier this year to look into closing The Curve – which houses Slough’s main library, a museum, and a music venue – as a cost saving measure. But a petition to the council is urging it to reconsider.

The petition says: “The Curve serves as a vital community building providing library services, study space, a facility for Slough Museum, a performance space, and vital skills learning space. It is the only fully accessible community space for town centre residents.”

Cost saving proposals first raised the possibility of closing The Curve when they were published in December last year. The proposals say the council should ‘explore’ closing The Curve or finding an alternative use for it, suggesting this could save £730,000 between April 2025 and April 2026.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors agreed to this when they approved the council’s medium term financial strategy – which looks ahead at future spending – in March this year. But no concrete proposals to sell it or change its use have yet been made.

The Labour Party’s proposed changes to the council spending plans included exploring new management options for The Curve as an alternative. But these were voted down at a full council meeting in March.

The petition demands that there should be no ‘break in service’ at The Curve even if a new operator is brought in to own or manage it. It is available to sign on the council’s website until August 21.