Brent residents denied their say on the closure of Willesden Library

One day local residents going to Willesden Library will find it close with a noticed on the doors “temporary closure for redevelopment….go to….”. Brent Council is anxious to close Willesden Green Library as soon as possible denying residents their rights to be consulted and have a say on the future of a local community space.

No statement of closure plan inside the library

Today as I walk towards my local library, I see a group of campaigners handing leaflets and collecting signatures. It is the Brent SOS Library campaigners. They are saying that Brent Council announced last December that Willesden Green Library will be closing for 2 years for redevelopment. A year ago the council stated the closing of 6 libraries in Brent in order to keep the 7 others open. Now they’re saying that Willesden Library needs to be improved and for that reason they are closing! 

Without Brent SOS Library campaigners we will not be aware of Brent council intention of closing Willesden Green library as there is no trace of closure statement inside the library. 

A communal space with excellent facilities

Anyone that has ever been to the Willesden Library knows that the current facilities are excellent. It is a two floors building with a nursery on first floor, a seating area for newspapers readers, a big table for community meetings. The upstairs areas is mostly used by local students that come here to work in groups, but also people with no internet access at home as all the library is wireless unable. The library has a marvellous selection of books on all subjects from literature, employment to how to build a website…. In short knowledge made available for all. 

Reading had changed forever the course of my life

Malcolm X wrote in his autobiography how books empowered him and changed his life: “I told the Englishman (English journalist interviewing him) that my alma mater was books, a good library”. “I have often reflected upon the new vistas the reading opened to me.” “I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life.” “Where else but in prison could I have attacked my ignorance…” he also said that the books that he referred to were quickly removed from the library! This is in effect a form of censorship.  

Librarian are not even unionised

Among the campaigners I recognised Philip. I was at the library when he was collecting signatures few months ago.  They’ve just been kicked out of the library by the personnel and a security sent exclusively for the day. I was astonished that the library employees asked them to leave as the closure of this library means that they will lose their job. They’ve probably been promised that they will be transferred somewhere else. Are they unionised I asked. None of them are Philip said. It was confirmed by the security guard I spoke to.  

Some unelected executives decide of library closures

 I asked who decides to close the libraries. Philip explained that the decision is taken by 10 council executives which implement the Council’s policies. Some of them are not even been elected. Lesley Jones, the Willesden Green ward councilor but also member of the executive committee was having her surgery that morning. She did not want to talk about the Willesden Green library closure claiming that she was tired and feeling unwell. She tried to justify the closure with the central government budget cuts. Where will local residents and books go while the library is closed I asked her. She said that the council will rent a local building. So they will be paying rent somewhere else! She was clearly feeling uneasy as she did not have a valid explanation to give.  

Residents have heard “temporary” closure before

A local resident recall the Thatcher years when the Willesden local hospital, slowly closed wards after wards until full closure unnoticed. It was also presented as a “temporary” closure! The hospital never reopened as everybody knows. Another suspects that they were selling the land to vested interests, developers that have been lobbying them for awhile. Another said they deliberately kept the cinema and cafe closed to prove the library unsustainable. 

Conclusion:

Residents are clearly suspicious and skeptical of Brent Council’s real intentions. Past experience has showed that closed public spaces are rarely reopened. Others are furious at the sneaky ways the council is using to go ahead with the plan and avoid delays due to public oppositions. Residents feel they have been stripped from their rights to have a say on issues that concerns them. Moreover they feel powerless and demanding that their representatives be accountable when the decisions are taken by non-elected “executives”.

References:

Brent Management committee: http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=123

Martin Francis of Brent Green Party blog: http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2011/12/willesden-green-library-not-on-december.html

Campaigners: http://www.brentsoslibraries.org.uk/sos/

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/krlibrary/

Kilburn Times article: http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/plans_to_temporarily_close_willesden_library_sparks_fears_for_vital_services_1_805283

My letter to Brent Council Executive to Save Local Libraries

At the Attention: ANN JOHN OBE (Strategy and policy co-ordination)

Email: cllr.ann.john@brent.gov.uk

Dear Ann,

I am a resident of Brent, living in Dollis Hill, although my library in Willesden High Street has been saved this time around, I am deeply concerned by the consequences for other residents of the borough living in Kensal Rise, Barham Park, Cricklewood, Neasden, Preston, and Tokyngton.

I have read the Intervention plan from the "Save Kensal Rise Library" campaigning group, to keep running the library at 2/3 less than current cost while improving services. 

Why do you stubbornly persist in going ahead with the closure of the libraries when there is clearly a cost effective alternative?

At the start of the year Brent opened a public consultation to supposedly ask residents ' opinion on the closure of libraries. I believe you received an unambiguous "NO". So why do you ask your citizens' opinion if it is to do just the opposite? To make us believe that our say counts in this democratic society we live in?  It does not seem so!

This decision you are making against the overwhelming majority of Brent residents will have a damaging effect primarily on the level of literacy among kids from disadvantaged social backgrounds.  Secondly you are taking from "us" a community space that plays a vital role in social cohesion.  

My voice is joined by 8 other Brent residents living in my house and many more I believe.

I urged you to have a minute of reflection, come to the libraries, talk to residents and think of the consequences of your decisions. When the Brent executive meeting comes on Monday 11 April at 7pm  remember all the residents that have faith in you to represent them, save the libraries. 

Your sincerely,

Sandra DeA

RESPONSE FROM: LESLEY JONES (HR, diversity, local democracy and consultation)

Dear Sandra,

No one is happy with the possibility of libraries closing. It is a sensitive and emotive issue.  But with the savage cuts imposed on us by the coalition government, we have no choice if statutory services are to be maintained. It is not Brent councillors being stubborn but councillors attempting to manage the situation central government have created for local authorities.

For at least 12 years senior library managers have advised councillors that there was a need to review locations and “rationalise” our libraries if we were to maintain buildings and reach national library standards. They have advised over the years that maintaining all libraries was not sustainable in the long term. No administration in the past 12 years has had the courage to heed this advice because it is such a sensitive issue. With the Libraries Transformation project, we are committed to have remaining libraries open each day, with a good level of new stock and other facilities.

I do understand the feeling expressed but we have not choice but to make severe cuts in ALL service budgets. This year the cut is £37m. By the end of the month we will have to start planning for the further reductions government expects us to make - around £100m over four years.  We will have lost around 500 council jobs at all levels by the end of 2011.

It is appreciated that community groups put in considerable effort to produce business plans and that there were some good aspects in almost all.  They were thoroughly evaluated.  However, it was made clear to all wishing to consider a business plan to take over a site that there should be NO cost and NO risk to the council. Unfortunately, no plan achieved this basic aim and some did not take account of essentials such as employment law or health and safety aspects. All assumed contributions from the council over one or more years, contributions we cannot afford to make, either now or in the near future.

Regards.

Cllr Lesley Jones

References:

Save Kensal Library - campaigning group

Facebook - Save Kensal Library!

Sarah Teather was on the panel for BBC Radio 4′s 

NewStatesman - Zadie Smith speaks out in defence of libraries

Save Kensal Rise youtube video

Willesden & Brent TImes: Brent Council to close six libraries in the borough despite residents’ protests

Guardian - Library campaigners demand public inquiry into closures

Independent - Overdue! The fight to save our libraries begins
The bookSeller - Campaigners hand in 6,000-strong petition over Brent library