No space for community to meet at Willesden Cultural Centre hub

No space for meetings like this

 For decades community activists have been able to hire rooms at Willesden Green Library Centre for public meetings. They have been used by campaigns to hold hustings at election times, rallied local people opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, examined issues such as Climate Change and Palestine and discussed the cuts the Coalition and Council have been making.  Our local MPs Sarah Teather and Barry Gardiner have both spoken at public meetings at the Library Centre.

Sarah Teather MP at a Willesden Green library Centre public meeting

The meeting rooms have been part of the lifeblood of local democracy. However the plans for the new Cultural Centre appear to exclude any such provision. The 'community hub' has no community meeting rooms.Not so much a plot as the Council seeming unaware that their actions continue to undermine respect for local democracy: skewed consultations, poor information and now no place to meet to give local people a voice.

It looks as if we shall have to make the 'Rising Sun' public house our community hub!



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 
Extract:

What will the new cultural centre include?
The new cultural centre, designed by the award winning architects AMHH Architects will incorporate:
General Library, Children’s Library, Customer Contact Centre, Museum,Special Exhibition Gallery, Education Room, Community Gallery Archive, Climate Controlled Archive Store, Foyer/Reception, Café,  Three Creative Cluster Spaces which will be fitted out to facilitate an array of artist and cultural programming,
Data Centre, Confidential Conference Room Public, Toilets, Office Space

First details of proposed Willesden Green Cultural Centre

...but will this shoe box be dwarfed by bloks of flats?

Galliford Try have delegated the designing of the new Willesden Cultural Centre to a Leeds based architects firm, removing the project even further from local people and designers who know the local area well. They have released the first images of the building which will replace the current library and bookshop. No space is allocated for the bookshop.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and Architecture 519 are pleased to announce they have been selected for the Willesden Green Cultural Centre Redevelopment in Brent with Galliford Try Regeneration. 

AHMM are leading the masterplan, which incorporates a new 4,000+ sq. m. library and cultural centre, with approximately 90 residential units by Architecture 519. A compact, atrium-centred scheme with a dramatic presence on the High Road will replace the existing 1980’s library, creating a community landmark in Brent. Activating the ground floor will be a café, children’s library and ‘creative cluster’ of large spaces tied into the masterplan through a significant new public space by Gillespies Landscape. 

The team, supported by URS Scott Wilson for structure and services, expect to submit a planning application in the spring, with completion in 2014 for the entire site."

Observers at last night's Council Meeting said that the council appeared confident that the project would go ahead with planning approveal by June/July 2012 with construction beginning in September 2012.

However a strong campaign is developing of those who are opposed the the redevelopment. They are joined by others with a particular interest in preserving the old Willesden Library.  Meanwhile Cllr James Powney, lead member for libraries, has intervened on the bookshop issue before the e-petition has closed and before it has been presented to the council.  As usual he appears to have made up his mind before hearing the arguments. This is what he posted on his BLOG:

Martin Francis of Brent Green Party has started a petition about the Willesden Bookshop.  Brent Council has given the bookshop notice to quit so that it can redevelop the Willesden Library Centre.  The petition appears to be arguing that the bookshop should be included as part of the new Willesden Library centre.  Presumably, Martin wants the Council to help the bookshop to temporary premises, and then to move back 18 months later.  Would any retailer really find it attractive to have two disruptive and expensive moves in a period of less than two years? Given that any retail space in the new library centre will be much higher quality than the current provision, the rent is likely to be much higher.  Would it not be more sensible to move to premises somewhere in the immediate area?

I have lodged the petition as a local resident rather than on behalf of the Green Party. As I write it has 278 signatures. Please encourage more people to sign so that Cllr Powney is forced to listen to us.

Here is another message from a concerned local resident:

I am also very unhappy about the proposed redevelopment of Willesden Library. Proper consultation has been distinctly lacking. 

We will be losing one of the more attractive corners of Willesden - currently providing much needed light and space in what is already a narrow and crowded high street; a much loved and well used book shop; a historic Willesden landmark in the old library building and a Library Centre which already houses an art gallery, museum, lots of space which has been allowed to deteriorate rather than be fully utilised as well as a decent sized library which the the south of the borough will now need following the closure of other local libraries.

The new plans seem to be far more about housing and council office space rather than a 'cultural hub'.

Spread the word on Willesden Bookshop - Area Forum tonight

I am unable to attend the Willesden Area Consultative Forum this evening as I am attending another meeting. The Forum is at 7pm, College of North West London, Denzil Road. I hope others will get there early to book a Soapbox to speak on Willesden Bookshop, the regeneration of Willesden Library Centre, and the loss of the locally listed Victorian Willesden Library, a much appreciated local landmark. Cllr Crane told the Brent Executive on  Monday that none of the developers who submitted bids could find a way to incorporate the listed building into the new development,.

As I write there are 186 signatories on the Willesden Bookshop e-petition. Please encourage people to sign and circulate the link. E-PETITION LINK

Many thanks.

Willesden Observer on Willesden Green Library and Bookshop

Follow this LINK

Loss of Willesden Bookshop would be a 'tragedy'

Before tonight's meeting a Willesden Bookshop customer sent this message to Brent Executive members:

Dear Councillor,

As a member of the Executive who will be attending this evening's meeting I am writing to you to register my dismay at the proposed redevelopment plans for Willesden Green, which currently do not accommodate The Willesden Bookshop. 

As a Brent resident for the last ten years I have valued this establishment and with each year I use it more and more.

I am not sure if you are aware of the invaluable resource that the bookshop provides, supplying stock to countless individuals and schools in the borough and beyond, cognizant of the diverse cultural community which it serves and reflecting those needs in the books that it sells. The depth of knowledge of the staff there is comprehensive impressive and provides a great service for those of us who prefer to browse and have a face to face conversation about a title or genre with someone whom we know will help us. It is efficient in ordering books for customers when they do not carry the titles on their own shelves, and are always courteous and helpful. My primary school aged children and secondary school aged son spend hours selecting books there and would be devastated not to be able to couple their visits to the library with one to the bookshop. There are numerous local authors whose work is regularly and prominently displayed. It's one of the few beacons of cultural success in Willesden Green and is a successful small business that we as individuals as well as local and central government should be championing. 

The current cafe space in the Library Centre area has always been unsuccessful. This may be down to the fact that there is a great deal of competition when it comes to cafes in the High Road and yet the redevelopment has plans for one. Willesden doesn't need another cafe. It needs to keep its only general bookshop, and I would like the developers to explain to Brent residents how one can have a Cultural Centre without having a bookshop, reflecting the culture of the area and the needs of its residents, at the heart of it.

I would please ask you to reconsider the plans in order to accommodate the Willesden Bookshop. It would be a tragedy for it to be lost.

Emergency! Bookshop petition disappears

I have received e-mails to tell me that the links to the Council's e-petition site do not work. Sure enough, when I checked via various routes I got either an error report or a page stating that there are no current petitions.

It may have crashed of course because hundreds of people were trying to sign my petition on the Willesden Bookshop and the site got overloaded, it may have been sabotaged by the Brent Council stasi , or most likely there is some weekend maintenance of the Council website that has messed it up.

I rang the Council's emergency weekend  number and they had a look and came back to say that there was no one available to deal with it but, 'Someone may know about it and be trying to fix it so keep trying and it may come back.' Not quite up to the IT Crowd advice but on the way. When I said it was very frustrating and I was keen to get support for the Willesden Bookshop the emergency woman (you know what I mean) said, "This may be an emergency to you but...."

Keep persevering and do let me know if it starts working for you.

By the way Willesden Green Library campaigners, Cllr Powney says you have got it all wrong. POWNEY BLOG

Willesden Green Library report now due at January Executive

I am grateful to Cllr. Ann Hunter (Lib Dem, Willesden Green) for this information from Brent officers on the redevelopment of Willesden Green Library.

A recommendation on the Willesden Green Redevelopment Project will be taken to the Executive on 16th January 2012. The Executive Report was delayed as officers required more time to ensure the proposals could meet the Council’s objectives. Please note I will be inviting the local ward Councillors to another briefing session the first week back after Christmas. 

Due to the programme delay it is now envisaged the Willesden Green Library Centre will be closed between, September 2012 – March 2014 (inclusive) to enable its redevelopment. However please note to secure vacant possession by September 2012, the WGLC decant will begin in July 2012. It is also envisaged a number of the third party tenants may vacate the site prior to July 2012. 

I presume the last sentence mean that the notice to Willesden Bookshop to leave by April 17th could  remain in place despite redevelopment work not starting until September.

I urge  Brent residents to rally around the bookshop and insist that they are offered some viable and affordable premises to continue their invaluable work.

Be prepared to support the Willesden Bookshop

An invaluable community resource

The report on the redevelopment of the Willesden Green Library was deferred again this week as the Council awaits the result of the High Court appeal. However it does appear that there are developers interested in redeveloping the site and things are likely to move quickly in the new year with the library closed for two years during the building works.

Although some less than adequate plans have been made for the continuation of library services nothing has been said about the provision of alternative premises for the Willesden Bookshop that shares the site.

The magic of children's books

The well-established bookshop is an invaluable community resource and is widely used by local schools because of its excellent children's book service and generous discount. The bookshop also supports local authors and is a vital cultural resource for the local community.

The Guardian newspaper recently launched a campaign to celebrate in dependent  local bookshops and their role in the community and it is a campaign that as a Green I fully support.  The Willesden Bookshop:

• Keeps money in the local economy
• Provides local employment
• Reduces journeys to central London and thus helps the environment
• Contributes to the diversity and health of Willesden High Road
• Provides expertise through staff's knowledge of authors and new publications
• Provides an expert service in children's books for schools and nurseries as well as study materials for local students

We must be ready to campaign to safeguard the future of our local bookshop.

Willesden Green Library not on December Executive Agenda

The report on the  rebuild of Willesden Green Library, which was rescheduled  for the December 12th Executive has not been tabled. The item was deferred at the last Executive meeting on November 14th.

Anyone know what's going on?

Willesden Green Library Report Now Going to December Executive

The Brent Executive will now consider the report on the redevelopment of Willesden Green Green Library at their December meeting. The item was originally tabled for discussion at Wembley's meeting but no report was available on the Council website.

Redevelopment would involve the demolition of the existing building and a rebuild that would include flats and possibly retail outlets. The Council is searching for developers interested in such a scheme. The delay may indicate that the proposals are hitting problems in the current economic climate but could also be linked to the High Court appeal being heard on Thursday and Friday of this week.

If the development were to take place the library would be closed for two years with only minimal alternative facilities and would add a further library to the six already closed by the council.

Willesden Green Library Report Missing From Executive Agenda

It appears that officers are going right up to the line over the proposals for the redevelopment (and thus a two year closure) of Willesden Green Library. The Executive Agenda lists the item and states:

This report summarises the procurement process undertaken by the Council to procure a developer partner to redevelop the Willesden Green Library Centre site and requests delegation to the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects in consultation with the Director of Legal and Procurement to award and enter into a Development Agreement with the preferred developer partner.

No report is attached despite the meeting only being a week away.  Other councillors and the public will have little time to peruse the document and prepare any submissions they might wish to make to the Executive. At the same time delegation to officers means little further involvement by our elected representatives.

Upcoming Brent Executive Decisions

Somewhat surprisingly, given the need for proper scrutiny of Executive decisions, the Call In and Scrutiny Overview Committee due to be held this evening has been cancelled.

The Executive meets again on November 14th and the most controversial item is likely to be consideration of options for the redevelopment of the Willesden Green Library Centre site. No details of proposals are available as yet but I will try to publish them as soon as possible. There has been only internal council  consultation on this so far. Redevelopment would mean the closure of the library for at least two years and thus will add to the impact of the recent closures of  six of the borough's 12 libraries.

There may be organised protests by dog walkers against the Dog Control Orders due to be approved that night. Dog walkers will be limited to a maximum of six dogs per person. Dogs will be excluded from playgrounds, multi-use games areas, tennis and netball courts and bowling greens. Other areas will be specified where dogs must be kept on a lead. (See my earlier post LINK)

The Executive will be asked to approve the awarding of a Design and Build Contract to rebuild the Girls' and Boys Crest Academies and a joint procurement of council Human Resources through the Oracle system led by Lewisham and Lambeth.  This aims to rationalise back office support systems within London's local councils.

The December 12th Executive will be presented with the Quarter 2 2011/12 - Performance and Finance review which may have repercussions for spending for the remainder of this financial year. The same meeting will consider alterations in fees and charges for council services,  The most controversial decision at the January 16th 2011 meeting will be over the future of children's centre childcare provision.