“HASTY CLOSURES OF MINET AND CARNEGIE WON’T SAVE A PENNY” say library campaigners – as they keep the red banner flying
It is now obvious that the hasty closure of Minet and Carnegie on April 1 WON’T SAVE A PENNY, say Friends of Lambeth Libraries.
“The staff will still be on the payroll. “Both buildings must still keep running, paying utilities, paying rates, because they are still occupied by (Carnegie) tenants and library back offices or (Minet) the borough archives.
“According to the council itself, it still has no idea what it plans for these buildings. “The only effect will be to boot out hundreds of users and flourishing groups, who will have nowhere else to go.”
JUDICIAL REVIEW
Friends of Lambeth Libraries are now working with lawyers on multiple grounds for judicial review.
“Last year, the threat of a judicial review convinced the council to at last look at the library management’s proposal to keep all Lambeth’s 10 libraries fully functioning, while making all the savings required.
“This was first offered last April, and was completely ignored by council officers. “The proposal has now been officially turned down.
“The reasons given basically consist of a list of obstacles that have been placed in its path by the council itself – in particular, the short timescale created by officers’ own delays and obfuscation.”
RED BANNER KEEPS FLYING
“Saturday also saw a fresh outing for the red ‘countdown to closure’ banner first put up by Friends of Tate South Lambeth Library (TSL).
“This was turned into a PR disaster by the council when it bullied library staff into taking it down. “The news was widely tweeted, and a poll found 99 per cent were against the council’s attempts to suppress the simple truth.
“Tate South Lambeth has now been spared from death by gym. “So has the neighbouring Durning library. “Consulted on which of the two should be a gym and which a library, local people have now responded en masse to say they want two libraries and no gym. “The council has been forced to back down.
“The red banner has now been bequeathed to the Friends of Carnegie Library, still condemned to close on April 1 and re-open as a GLL gym with a few books somewhere in a ‘lounge’. “The council still says it has no information on what will be provided.
“Meanwhile, the red banner appeared on the Carnegie library railings on Saturday, and was widely tweeted. “Expect more cat-and-mouse games as the council tries to get rid of it… and advertises nationwide its refusal to listen.”
LATEST PUBLIC MEETING
More people than ever- about 120 – attended the (third) public meeting of Defend the 10 Libraries, on Thursday last week (10 March). People queued to sign the latest petition.
And they are angrier than ever, say FOLL. Demonstrations followed on Saturday at the doomed Minet and Carnegie libraries.
OTHER MAJOR NEWS
UNISON is to strike for the third time – this time for TWO days, March 21-22.
LATEST NEWS ON THE CAMPAIGN
http://defendthe10-lambeth.org.uk/ (Source: Friends of Lambeth Libraries)