Willesden Green Library closure plans mean-spirited and fatally short sighted – Teather
January 18, 2012 5:05 PM
Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central, has criticised the Labour-run Council's plans for alternative library provision while Willesden Green Library is closed for redevelopment. Current plans require the library to be closed for a minimum of 18 months - making the spring of 2014 the earliest possible date of opening.
Willesden Green library is the busiest in the borough providing much needed study space for young people in Brent. While the redevelopment is taking place the Council will provide a temporary library at the Grange Road council offices. However, the temporary library will have a significantly reduced collection of stock, only 10 study spaces and only 10 computers available on the site. This compares to the 130 study spaces currently available for local users at Willesden Green library. In addition there are questions over the accessibility of the new site.
This reduction of service is a further blow to the hundreds of library users who, following the closures of Cricklewood, Neasden and Kensal Rise libraries, have found that Willesden Green Library is the most convenient alternative. To meet the local demand for library services during the proposed closure, local campaigners have argued that as well as suitable temporary provision in Willesden, Cricklewood and Kensal libraries should be reopened.
In addition, no provision has been made in the new development for either the Brent Irish Advisory Service or the Willesden Bookshop which currently occupy party of the Library centre. The Council has also refused to help either organisation with moving costs. If the Willesden Bookshop is forced to close the nearest bookshop will be Queens Park books which is 1.2 miles away.
Local Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather added:
"Willesden Green is the busiest library in Brent and during the summer the study spaces are always full with local students revising for exams. These short-sighted plans will have a massive effect on pupils in my constituency who need somewhere quiet to work."
"I am also deeply saddened that these mean-spirited changes have left both the Willesden Bookshop and the Brent Irish Advisory Service with nowhere to go. Many of my constituents rely on BIAS for support and advice - if both the Willesden Bookshop and BIAS are forced to close the highstreet will be poorer for it."
"It is disappointing that once again the Labour Council is not taking the needs of the local people into account."
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