Weighty evidence on library closures

The evidence supplied to the Parliamentary Selection Committee (Culture, Media and Sports) by Brent SOS Libraries is now available at www.publications.parliament.uk LINK

A PDF of evidence submitted by Brent campaigns and many other bodies is available HERE

Jeremy Hunt is expected to make a statement soon on whether he will order a public inquiry into the Brent closures.

Council confusion over library 1.5 mile claim

Following Brent Council's correction of the oft-repeated claim that no resident is further than 1.5 miles from a library which left the impression that the original quote was based on all libraries, including those that have now closed, a Brent Council spokeswoman seems to muddy the waters again. It appears they were including libraries in other boroughs.

She is quoted HERE on London24, the Archant Group's website:

The Brent Council spokeswoman said it was “nonsense” that the council has been misleading anyone.

She said: “It is true that everyone living in the borough is no more than a mile and a half from a library, either in Brent or a neighbouring borough, and many residents choose to use a library in another borough. This was clearly explained in the proposals.’’

It looks like we'll have to all get out our measuring sticks. Could it be that Brent is measuring it 'as the crow flies' rather than actual walking distance?

Crowds defend Kensal Rise Library

From a Labour Party member:

There was some good coverage of Kensal Rise library on the BBC1 local news at 6.30pm (,last night). There has been a vigil outside the library and local schoolchildren explained why they oppose its closure.  I was there this evening and there were some very angry people - including local Labour members, who were asking how to deselect the local councillors who supported the closures.

Support Cricklewood Library on Saturday and Bring Your Children

From the Save Cricklewood Library Campaign

What happened to the Mayor's cat, Ken ?
 
Local and London authors are sharpening their story-telling skills for the Read-In at Cricklewood library on Saturday
26 February (10.30-2pm,152 Olive Road NW2)

Supporting our story telling local resident  Ken Livingstone,candidate for London Mayor in 2012, by contributing their tales  are :

John Simmons - internationally known writer and teacher of writing for business and the contributing co-editor of 'From Here to Here' - 31 stories inspired by London's Circle Line amongst his numerous other books

Martin Francis - famous 'Wembley Matters' bloggist and organiser of environment education scheme 'Brent School Without Walls'

Anna Dolezal - well-known University of the Arts trained   local artist who has written five poems specifically for the  day

Jan Palmer -  retired local primary school teacher and artist whose children 'loved the library'

Graham Durham -  special educational needs expert consultant and secretary of the Save Cricklewood Library campaign

The event is open to all and is part of the campaign to prevent Brent Council closing Cricklewood Library and five other Brent libraries.

Civic Centre - No Comment! No Copying...

Brent Council has uploaded a 'Virtual Tour' of the new Civic Centre to YouTube.  Unusually both the 'Comment'  button and the 'Copy Embed Code' facility have been disabled by them.  This means that I cannot put a copy on this blog and that nobody can comment on it.

I wonder why?

Anyway, in the belief that we citizens of Brent, and farther afield, should be able to comment on this £100m project at a time when Brent is cutting basic services, please follow this LINK to see the video and return to Wembley Matters to make a comment below.