Lib Dem leader calls for Brent Council to buy back Kensal Rise Library

Councillor Paul Lorber, leader of the Liberal Democratic group on Brent Council, has stepped into the row over the Kensal Rise Library development, pop up library demolition and fake emails.

In a letter to Christine Gilber, Acting Chief Executive, he writes:

Christine

The mess with Kensal Rise was caused by Brent Council firstly by closing the library and then by organising a 2am raid to clear the library of its books.

The local community had the use of the land & building (building paid through donation and local taxation) for over 110 years until closed by Labour Councillors who ignored the views of local people.

Local people asked to be allowed to run their own library this would have been possible while the books were in place and before the building reverted back to All Souls' College Oxford. This was refused and out of spite the Council cleared the books in the middle of the night.

The planning application and the fraudulent emails saga is a consequence of the above and whether the Police investigate or not does not detract from the key issue - which is of course the BUILDING.

It was of course highly irresponsible for the Council to simply 'give away' a FREE building for nothing. The Labour Administration  and your officers have betrayed the Kensal Rise community and let them down.

What Now? The obvious answer and solution is for Brent Council to buy back the property for local community use.

Can you therefore review all available S106/planning gain and other resources available and advise how a repurchase of the property in partnership with local people can be achieved.

I would appreciate an early reply.

Regards

Paul

Councillor Paul Lorber
Liberal Democrat Group Leader