Willesden Green Station book swap to return

 

I am sharing this news received via Facebook. After a campaign led by local residents LINK the surface level station book swaps will return.

Message from TfL:

Community book swap libraries will start to return to surface level London Underground stations in May after London Fire Brigade (LFB) and Transport for London (TfL) worked in partnership to agree the use of a suitable fire-proof storage solution.

New cabinets will be introduced at a number of stations, starting with High Barnet and enabling the valuable community assets of book swap libraries to be re-established in those locations.

The cabinets, from a third-party supplier, are both compliant with fire safety regulations and meet the unique requirements for the London Underground in terms of fire safety, accessibility, and network security.

 

Locations where book swap libraries will be re-introduced from May are:

Acton Town
Cockfosters
Ealing Common
East Finchley
Hammersmith
High Barnet
Kew Gardens
Kilburn
Morden
Northfields
Oakwood
Ravenscourt Park
Stamford Brook
Totteridge & Whetstone
Willesden Green

TfL and LFB are continuing working together on the issue of book swap libraries at sub-surface London Underground stations, which are subject to more stringent regulations.

 

At these locations, finding a solution that is compliant with fire safety regulations is currently not possible.

However, we will be exploring with the Government whether the regulations could be reviewed, which could potentially allow for the return of these community assets with appropriate risk assessment and mitigations in the future.

 

I appreciate that there has been some uncertainty related to book swaps, but I do hope this good news addresses any questions in relation to the recent safety issues with the book swaps.

 

Garden trip to Willesden Green station with cake and silly socks

From Willesden Green Town Team

Never mind the failure of the Garden Bridge, we have a Garden Platform you can walk on - 2 even... On Sunday 20th August, 4-5.30pm: spend your old pound coins and look in close up at the plants on the platforms; buy a slice of cake; or some silly socks (think early Xmas stockings) ; or a 'Keep Willesden Green Clean' bag. Make your Wish at the Wishbone.  All proceeds towards Willesden Greening. Small groups will be personally escorted onto the Garden Platforms by a volunteer gardener.

Willesden Green: Fracking hell-not here! Demonstrate tomorrow

Brent Friends of the Earth (Brent FoE) says that fracking is a dirty word that local residents do not want, and they will be asking MPs, London Assembly members and the local Council to swear that they won’t allow it in Brent.

They will spelling out their message outside Willesden  Green Station tomorrow at 10.45am tomorrow (Saturday October 19th)

Later this year the Government is expected to open vast swathes of the country to fracking with a new round of licensing. This will bring the threat of fracking to thousands more people’s doorsteps. Brent, as the local planning authority, has the power to prevent this. Brent is one of many authorities on a list of potential sites under consideration for this controversial technology.

Ian Saville, Brent FoE spokesperson and Neasden resident, says, “fracking is a dirty technology that will damage our health, environment and climate. The resulting shale gas is a dirty fossil fuel that will add to the dangerous levels of greenhouse gases in the environment. It should be left in the ground.”

“Brent residents, along with other communities up and down the country, don't want a dash for gas. If fracking is the answer, then the question must be wrong! If London Mayor Boris Johnson gets his way, we could see fracking across London. We need to send him and Brent a clear message that we do not want or need fracking to keep the lights on, nor can we count on it to reduce fuel bills. Instead we need to invest in renewables and energy saving to heat our homes.”

Brent FoE will also be running a stall outside Willesden Green tube station on the day and will be speaking to local residents about the problems with fracking.