KEEP WILLESDEN GREEN
Please join us to discuss the development of the
WILLESDEN GREEN LIBRARY
and the impact the proposals may have on Willesden Green
FEBRUARY 16TH 2012 7pm
KINGS HALL, 155 Harlesden Road, Willesden Green, NW10 2BS
Residents have organised a meeting to discuss the Willesden Green Library development proposals and the impact on the Willesden Green area for Thursday of next week (details above)
Details of some of the issues involved can be found on the Keep Willesden Green website LINK but among the issues are:
- Lack of consultation over the original proposals and the 'offer' to be made in the proposed Cultural Centre
- The handing over to developers of council land to finance the development with all profits from housing going to the developer
- The Council-Private Partnership which leaves a lot of decision making to the developer
- The developer's apparent decision that retail in the Centre would not be viable (despite provision for a cafe when there are many available in the vicinity)
- The subsequent loss of premises to the much valued Willesden Bookshop
- The developer's advice that the historic old locally listed 1894 Willesden Library could not be accommodated in the new plans
- The subsequent loss of a base for the Brent Irish Advisory Service
- The apparent lack of public meeting rooms in the new Centre when the current rooms have been well-used and are essential to local democracy
- The adequacy of the council's alternative arrangements during the 18month-2 year building period and proposals to reopen some of the closed libraries instead
- Loss of the open space in front of the library
- Lack of parking spaces for disabled visitors
The ePetition calling on the council to allocate space for the Willesden Bookshop currently has 417 signatures and can be accessed HERE
The ePetition calling for the retention of the Old Willesden Librray building currently has 474 signatories and can be accessed HERE