Borrow, Don't Buy: Sevenoaks Library of Things to Open at the Bat & Ball Centre

A pilot scheme that lets Sevenoaks residents borrow power tools, gardening kit and other occasional-use household items instead of buying them outright is set to open at the Bat & Ball Centre in early 2027. Sevenoaks Town Council has awarded Sevenoaks Climate Action Network (SCAN) £4,000 in grant funding, plus free space at the Cramptons Road centre, to get the Library of Things off the ground.

Graham Tyler and Jenny Packer, who are co-developing the project within SCAN, said: "Across Sevenoaks, many households own tools and equipment that are used only occasionally. A drill may be needed for a single DIY project, a pressure washer for a few days each year, or gardening equipment for occasional seasonal work. Alongside the financial impact, unnecessary purchasing contributes to waste, increased consumption of materials and energy, and the environmental impact associated with manufacturing, transport and disposal." The Library of Things, they said, will let residents borrow what they need rather than buy it outright.

The town council's £4,000 grant - awarded under its Green Community Investment Plan - will go towards a core set of borrowable items and the PAT testing equipment needed to keep them safe to lend out. Councillor Claire Shea, Leader of Sevenoaks Town Council, said: "We have a long-held ambition to deliver a Library of Things in Sevenoaks. The work done by Sevenoaks Climate Action Network to build their own platform is remarkable. We are delighted to be able to partner with them by having the Library of Things at the Bat & Ball Centre."

The scheme isn't being imposed from above - it's what locals asked for. At SCAN's Climate Fair at The Vine earlier this year, visitors were asked to vote for the project they would most like to see happen, and a Library of Things came out on top.

With the launch still a few months off, SCAN is now asking residents what items they'd actually want to borrow, via a short questionnaire at sevenoakscan.org.uk/lot.

Source: Sevenoaks Town Council.