A library in an area in West London was temporarily closed due to a pest infestation, which the council later confirmed as a bedbug outbreak.
The closure began last Tuesday when the bugs were initially discovered and the library remained shut that day. It was closed again on Thursday for essential maintenance.
The library – Ealing Central Library – briefly reopened for a book launch on Wednesday evening but had to close again on Monday following another bedbug sighting.
The closure sign posted on the library’s doors stated that the soft furnishings were removed temporarily for pest control treatment. These treatments involved the application of pest control chemicals that were declared safe for children and adults.
The closure was expected to last until Thursday, with a council spokesman expressing the council’s decision to temporarily close the library, even though the treatments were safe, to avoid concerns among library users and staff.
A local resident posted on the Ealing Facebook group advising against borrowing books due to concerns about bedbugs possibly being present in them and potentially spreading to people’s homes.
The Ealing Council apologised for any inconvenience caused and assured the public of the safety measures taken to address the issue.
[Image created via MidJourney]