CARNEGIE GYM WITH ‘LIBRARY’ PLANS – THE HORRIFYING TRUTH:
‘LIBRARY’ WILL BE CONFINED TO EXISTING CHILDREN’S LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY
TREES TO BE FELLED IN READING GARDEN SO GREENWICH LEISURE CAN BUILD A BOILER ROOM – AND MORE…AS ‘EXHIBITION’ FARCE IS SET TO CAUSE UPROAR
News From Crystal Palace understands that Labour-dominated Lambeth council’s steamrollering of plans to accommodate the totally unwanted* Greenwich Leisure gym in the Carnegie library at Herne Hill will mean:
- the ‘neighbourhood library’ confined to the left of the main entrance in what was the childrens’ library, and art gallery, with dividing wall knocked down – and that’s it for library space.
- An “out of the blue” modern extension for the gym reception on the car park. Also shown on plans is cycle rack and staff car parking space.
- Cut down existing trees and shrubs in the reading/flats residents garden to make room for two new plant rooms, housing boilers and condensers.
- proposal is to build extension – possibly out of red brick – with aluminium double glazed windows in a grade two listed building
- STORM OVER CARNEGIE LIBRARY ‘EXHIBITION’ – BEING HELD FOR JUST TEN HOURS OVER TWO DAYS – £700,000 TO EXCAVATE BASEMENT SAY CAMPAIGNERS
People working between 9 am and 6 pm won’t be able to see any plans being unveiled for the Carnegie library at Herne Hill this week – because the only days and times they are being shown to the public are on Wednesday from 9 am to 1pm and on Thursday (13th) from 12pm to 6pm.Friends of Lambeth Libraries say: “Herne Hill locals have tried for a full year to find out the truth about plans to turn their much-used, highly popular Carnegie library into a gym, with a bit of a book collection somewhere and no staff at all.”Now they can get a glimpse – but they’ll have to be quick. “And unemployed…”Nobody who works has a hope of attending. “Others have had to be quick on their feet – the ‘exhibition’ was not advertised until late last week.”Friends of Lambeth Libraries (FOLL) say the word “consultation” is studiously avoided in the flyer announcing the exhibition.“Nobody anywhere in the borough has ever been consulted about the hated ‘Culture2020’ plans to destroy four out of 10 libraries.
“The one exception was the December 2015 consultation with users of Durning and Tate South Lambeth libraries, as to which was to be reduced to a gym. “The opposition, from both libraries, was so overwhelming that the idea had to be dropped.
“No such chance for Carnegie library users, although at least three surveys have revealed just as much opposition to having a gym.
“But Lambeth council are still so – inexplicably – determined to force in a gym that around £700,000 is to be spent on excavating the Carnegie’s basement to accommodate one. “But that won’t stop GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited) being given the run of most of the ground floor for ‘yoga and higher energised classes such as body pump’.
FOLL say that at a previous “exhibition” in June GLL staff and top-ranking Lambeth staff in attendance had no answers to such questions as:
Where’s your business plan?
Where’s your market research?
How is this supposed to work financially?
Don’t you know everyone wants a library, not a gym?
Why close Carnegie library (and Minet) at huge expense while your plans take month after month to put together? Keeping them open would cost much less.“Will the latest plans make sense? Will Carnegie locals end up with anything resembling a community resource, if the council and GLL have their way?
“You might find out this week – but only if you’re VERY quick, and don’t have a job.
“MEANWHILE: Local schoolchildren have already made their views known – by decorating the closed library with crime scene tape and a notice accusing the council of theft.
“And the Friends of Carnegie Library and other library users have formed a democratically-constituted charity to take over the building. “Membership free until AGM next year. “To join, please send name and contact details to: [email protected] .”
The exhibition is being held in St Saviour’s church hall, Herne Hill Road SE24 0AY on Wednesday October 12: 9am- 1pm
and Thursday October 13: 12pm-6pm. *If you are in favour please contact News From Crystal Palace…….