LIBRARY CAMPAIGNER Robbie Gibson has voiced his thanks on Facebook in the wake of Thursday night’s sell-out concert in Upper Norwood joint library:
“Massive shout to all those involved in the sell out gig in the library: Project Audio on 0208 771 1620 in Crystal Palace for donating the PA system and to Simon Gaiger who was a brilliant sound engineer on the desk;
to Dani and Herb, The Children, Alain, Barry, Ben, Sarah, Gez, JAIA, Franck, Marcina and the Lovebirds for a brilliant session; thanks Sainsburys for donating wine;
to Bryher, Rona, Michelle, Alex, Colin, Max, Viki and I’m sure many others who helped serve food and drink, do the door, sort out posters etc and to all of you who were in the audience.
“If you took some pictures please post them on the various facebook groups. “Apologies if I missed anyone.
“Palace you were terrific.”
Tag Archives: Upper Norwood Joint Library
“PALACE YOU WERE TERRIFIC” (n.b: this is not a football item)
24 NovBE FLUSHED WITH PRIDE AT LIBRARY! (but please don’t give yourself a lift)
16 NovUPPER NORWOOD Joint Library is asking people to donate to a ‘flush fund’ to repair and upgrade the library loo which is currently out of order.
Improvements will cost £410.40 – with any money over potentially going to loo rolls or being put by for any other repairs and maintenance.
The ‘flush fund’ is just one area where the library is looking for help. Cutbacks mean that only one daily paper – the Daily Mail – is available. A notice in the foyer asks people to donate their own (read) newspapers – preferably on the same day. “They will be gratefully received” says the poster.
Signs also ask people not to use the lift – unless they are in a wheelchair, have a pram or trolley or heavy bag or cases – as part of a bid to cut the electricity bill.
NOTE: The above item set me thinking (Highly dangerous I know) . Would the library welcome Blu Tak, paper clips, envelopes, dusters, drawing pins, Mr Sheen, rubber bands, washing up liquid, lightbulbs, mouse plugs (to deter furry intruders), mouse mats (for computer mice), grand pianos etc? Every little helps, as they say. (I can’t ask the library staff as Croydon won’t let them talk to the press…..)
Improvements will cost £410.40 – with any money over potentially going to loo rolls or being put by for any other repairs and maintenance.
The ‘flush fund’ is just one area where the library is looking for help. Cutbacks mean that only one daily paper – the Daily Mail – is available. A notice in the foyer asks people to donate their own (read) newspapers – preferably on the same day. “They will be gratefully received” says the poster.
Signs also ask people not to use the lift – unless they are in a wheelchair, have a pram or trolley or heavy bag or cases – as part of a bid to cut the electricity bill.
NOTE: The above item set me thinking (Highly dangerous I know) . Would the library welcome Blu Tak, paper clips, envelopes, dusters, drawing pins, Mr Sheen, rubber bands, washing up liquid, lightbulbs, mouse plugs (to deter furry intruders), mouse mats (for computer mice), grand pianos etc? Every little helps, as they say. (I can’t ask the library staff as Croydon won’t let them talk to the press…..)
A THANKSGIVING Day benefit gig for the library is being held on November 22nd. Acts lined up include The Love Birds, The Indestructible Mr Herb Phelps, Franck Alba, Marcina Arnold, The Children, Dani Cali, Sarah Gamble, Ben Godfrey, Sir Barry, and Mr Jala.
There are only 100 tickets which are available from the library, price £5 (and refreshments will be served too) From 7.30pm.
Robert Gibson co-chair of the Upper Norwood Library Campaign said: “This is an opportunity too good to miss, “Crystal Palace’s finest musical talent brought together in a unique venue. “It is amazing how the community has rallied round to support our cherished library.”
FINALLY, congratulations to the Upper Norwood Library Campaign who were highly commended (runners up) for team of the year in the Croydon Guardian’s ‘Croydon Champions’ awards.
CROYDON SHOULD PAY 42 % OF LIBRARY FUNDING SAYS CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE
15 NovCONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE Andy Stranack says Croydon council should provide 42 per cent of all future funding for Upper Norwood joint library.
He suggested the figure – which is based on the percentage of residents from Croydon borough being registered library members – at an informal meeting with library campaigners this morning (Thursday).
Mr Stranack told the meeting – held in the Little Palace cafe on Westow Hill after library staff informed Mr Stranack he had been banned on the instructions of Croydon council from the library - that he could lobby for extra funding in the future (but not for the financial year starting April 1 2013.)
“I will do all I can in the right places to get that. “I need to be able to sell the costs to them. “I will put as much pressure on whether it’s Tim Pollard or Sarah Bashford. “I will fight for Croydon to give 42 per cent of funding.” (To which Crystal Palace Community Association chairman John Payne told him: “For a political candidate you’re most unpredictable.”)
Among the many points raised were the 60 per cent cut in Croydon’s funding to the library – compared to a local authority average of about 28 per cent. which campaigner Robbie Gibson said had implications for both staffing and opening hours.
While Croydon’s own libraries have had budget increases Upper Norwood’s had been locked by Croydon for some time, said Mr Gibson, who added: “And Croydon’s budget is distinctly not transparent.”
To the campaigners surprise Mr Stranack agreed with them and admitted: “They have all sorts of centralised costs. “They were charging £150,000 for maintenance of one community facility because it was topped up with all the community facilities in Croydon.”
And on being told that Lambeth were more engaged in the trust process than Croydon who were more interested in a procurement process Mr Stranack said: “Obviously I’m a Conservative and I’ve got to show some support for the Conservatives . “I’ve had to deal with Croydon’s procurement process under both parties and it’s a nightmare.”
He then asked campaigners if it would be easier for them to deal with just one authority – and was met with a vociferous ‘No’.
Campaigner Robbie Gibson told him: “The whole ethos of our library is that it is independent, serves five boroughs and should reflect the nature of Crystal Palace.”
In response to further questions campaigners told Mr Stranack they would want an SLA (Service Level Agreement) - a ‘nuts and bolts’ agreement where both sides agree how much a trust running the library would pay - from both Croydon and Lambeth.
Mr Gibson said Lambeth would not agree to a single SLA where Lambeth paid more.
Mr Stranack said they should emphasise the SLA when applying for National Lottery funding. “What I want to fight for is that we keep the library here and to make sure the SLA secures the future. “I’m really impressed with where you’ve got to” he told campaigners.
“I’m pleased I’ve come up here. “I don’t know if I’m going to get elected or not but I still want to stay involved. “I don’t want to walk away from this even if I’m not elected.”
Campaigners praised the library staff. Robbie Gibson told Mr Stranack: “”The staff have been in a maelstrom. “Full credit to them,. “It’s been a horrible situation. “No-one has left. “They do deserve an acknowledgement – and gratitude for keeping it going. “If we didn’t think the staff were good at their job we wouldn’t be supporting them.”
Pam Gray asked him: “Why can’t Croydon understand their figures – or believe them?” To which Mr Stranack responded: “I think local authorities don’t understand their figures a lot”
Mr Stranack revealed that before coming he had spoken to his rival in the Parliamentary by-election for Croydon North – Labour candidate and Lambeth council leader Steve Reed. “There’s a lot of politics going on beneath this.”The reality over the next few years is that the politicians are going to have a ding dong.”
Towards the end of the meeting campaigner Bryher Scudamore told Mr Stranack: “It appears Croydon have decided that anything Upper Norwood is a poison chalice and feel they’re against them. “We’re not. “We just want a good facility.”
EARLIER, as Mr Stranack sat down with campaigners, he admitted: “I wasn’t sure what I was coming to. “I want to listen to your concerns.” Campaigners explained Upper Norwood was the only independent library in the country, the only library authority in its own right.
John Payne, chairman of Crystal Palace Community Association told him: “We’ve got a model here that is much more efficient than Croydon’s. “What they do is fail to put their back office costs and their recharges onto Croydon’s branch libraries. “It doesn’t hold a fair comparison with our library.
Mr Stranack: “So there’s a lot of centralised costs that aren’t shown up?” Mr Payne: “Yes.”
Campaigner Pam Gray said: “Lambeth do it. “Croydon do it. “They all manipulate the figures. “Upper Norwood doesn’t have any back office support – except when the library joint committee was going and that was committee support.
“The principle is that it was for many years jointly funded by Lambeth and Croydon and it was only the issue of local councillors being voted on to the joint committee – and only since the last local elections when the local Conservative councillors lost their seats. “It shouldn’t be.”
Robbie Gibson added that when Lambeth was Labour-controlled there were Conservative councillors from Gipsy Hill ward on the joint committee. “Probably the most fervent and loyal supporters over the years have been Lambeth Conservatives” he added.
Mark Richardson said Croydon Cllr Sarah Bashford, who previously held the culture and libraries portfolio, had said the issue was about governance and was not about funding. Then her successor Cllr Tim Pollard had ‘cut with slash’ the funding.
Mr Stranack told campaigners: “I know from my time working in the council, working in leisure services cuts are notorious – setting a budget in the 1900s and then adding four per cent, and another four per cent.”
Campaigners pointed out concerns about the liability transfer from the councils to a trust, the cutbacks in periodicals and Croydon’s deadline for a trust to take over the library next April – described by Robbie Gibson as ‘a nonsense’.
Campaign chairman Mark Richardson added that in 2004 there was a successful regeneration bid for the library which Croydon will have to pay back. John Payne said that the £75,000 which Croydon were giving “wouldn’t run a corner store.”
Robbie Gibson said it would be difficult to ask Bromley, Southwark or Lewisham to help fund the library – especially when Croydon had the biggest user group.
Campaigners emphasised they were not looking for the right to buy the library – but to have it transferred to them at a peppercorn rent.
UPDATE: Mr Stranack has responded to comments made by Labour candidate Steve Reed following his visit to the library. See story headed ‘Library Sensation – Croydon tried to shut UNJL a year ago’
FORGE PLANS OPPOSED BY NORWOOD SOCIETY
13 NovPLANS TO build a block of flats where the old forge stands in Beardell Street are being opposed by the Norwood Society.
In a strongly-worded letter of objection to Lambeth council, Philip Goddard, chairman of the society’s planning sub-committee, says the proposed development’s nearest equivalent in height, massing and scale is the warehouse on the opposite side of Beardell Street which the applicants themselves characterise as ‘bearing no relationship to the building which it abuts.’
“They could not have devised a better description of their own proposed building” adds Mr Goddard..
“The applicants seek to justify the height and scale of their building by reference to possible future buildings on either side, shown shaded on their elevations.
“No doubt if permission is given for their proposals there will be further applications for buildings on either side which will in turn be justified by reference to the current proposals.
“This whole argument is circular and entirely devoid of merit. “The height and scale of the proposed building should be justified by reference to existing buildings, not to buildings which do not now and may never exist.”
Other points of objection made by Mr Goddard in his letter of objection to Lambeth include:
- In terms of its scale, massing and height the proposed block of flats is overdominant in its context and represents an overdevelopment of the site. Beardell Street is a pleasant street of mainly late Victorian houses of three or two storeys, largely free of the ignorant and unsympathetic alterations which have disfigured much of the contemporary housing stock in this area.
- The proposed five/six storey block is a gross intrusion into the present low-rise streetscape. In view of the fact that its principal visibility would be from Beardell Street and not from Westow Hill, it should take its cue from the former and not from the latter.
- According to the London Plan (policy 7.1 D) “the design of new buildings and the spaces they create should help reinforce or enhance the character… of the neighbourhood”. In policy 7.4 A of the same Plan we are told that “development should have regard to the form, function and structure of an area, place or street, and the scale, mass and orientation of surrounding buildings” and in 7.4 B e that “buildings should be informed by the surrounding historic environment”.
- Again, according to Policy 7.7 C, relating specifically to tall and large buildings (defined as buildings which are “substantially taller than their surroundings”, which clearly includes this one), “tall and large buildings should relate well to the form, proportion, composition, scale and character of surrounding buildings, urban grain and public realm”
- This is particularly important in the case of a building which has an impact on a conservation area (7.7 C). The proposed building fails on every one of these counts.
- According to Policy 3.28 Table 3.2 of the London Plan the appropriate density for dwellings in an area with a PTAL (Public Transport Accessibility Level) score of between four and six is between 200 and 700 hr/ha. The density of the proposed dwellings is above 1000 hr/ha, and therefore well above the maximum permitted density.
- The size of the second bedroom in each flat is, if only marginally, below the minimum size permitted in the Lambeth UDP (Unitary Development Plan). Cooking, dining and sitting space for each flat is concentrated in a single room of only around 29 sq.m.
- “In our view the layout of these flats borders on sub-standard accommodation.”There is virtually no amenity space at all. “The proposals are therefore in conflict with the Lambeth UDP which requires a minimum of 50 sq.m. per development plus a further 10 sq.m per flat.
- There is no play area for children, in conflict with Policy 3.41 of the London Plan which provides that “new development including housing should make provision for playspace. This should normally be made on-site”.
- There is no provision for residents’ parking, not even any disabled or essential users’ bays. “Experience indicates that car ownership in an area which has a high PTAL score is not significantly lower than in other areas. Beardell Street and surrounding streets are already heavily parked.
- Moreover, the PTAL ratings are calculated without reference to the topography of the area to which they relate (or, in other words, on the principle that London is flat). The two railway stations referred to in the design and access statements are at the bottom of two of the steepest hills in South London, negotiable only by the fit and healthy.
- The commercial units on the ground floor could be supplied only with extreme difficulty, as the previous businesses operating from this site discovered. This fact, and the proposed layout of these units, suggest that it is the intention to convert them to flats in due course. (20-22 Beardell Street SE19 1TP planning application No. 12/02665/FUL)
LIBRARY SENSATION: ‘Croydon tried to close UNJL a year ago – stopped by Lambeth legal action’
12 NovLIBRARY SENSATION: ‘Croydon tried to close UNJL a year ago – stopped by Lambeth legal action’
CROYDON COUNCIL tried to shut down Upper Norwood Joint Library a year ago, Lambeth council leader Steve Reed has revealed.
Speaking outside UNJL after a visit on Monday morning Mr Reed, who is Labour candidate in the forthcoming Croydon North by-election being held on November 29th, told News From Crystal Palace: “They tried to close it down a year ago and we served legal notices to stop them because they were in breach of the contract.
“We stopped that – now they have tried to cut £100,000 of the funding.” Labour councillors in Croydon have promised they will restore equal funding to keep the library going if Labour retake control of Croydon in the May 2014 council elections, added Mr Reed.
Answering questions from library campaigner Robbie Gibson outside the library Mr Reed told him: “Croydon council are trying to destroy this much-loved community facility. “They tried last year to cut the funding and shut it down. “We slowed them down.
“What they did then was was hold a consultation asking for peoples views. “People said they wanted this library protected and kept open and the Conservatives decided to slash the funding anyway – in direct contravention of 100 years of history.”
Mr Reed told people outside the library “We are trying to work with the community, people like Robbie Gibson and the 3,000 who responded to the consultation to set up a trust with funding from both councils and to continue funding for children who need this library to teach them life skills, broaden their mind, teach them how to read. “It’s only here because Labour protected it from Tory tricks.”
Mr Reed was accompanied by Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman MP who was asked by Croydon Cllr Pat Ryan (Lab Upper Norwood) to raise the issue of libraries overall – especially Upper Norwood – in the House of Commons. At this point a woman passer-by interrupted to tell the MP she wanted to say ‘Hello’. Harriet Harman then left without giving Cllr Ryan a reply.
- ANDY STRANACK, CONSERVATIVE candidate for the by election said in a statement to News From Crystal Palace::-
” I find Steve’s comments quite perplexing. As far as I am aware, the only legal notice that has ever been served was when Croydon served notice on Lambeth for breach of contract in relation to Lambeth Councillors not attend an AGM and meetings of the Joint Management Committee, which meant that a budget couldn’t be set. “If Lambeth have ever served a legal notice on Croydon with regards to the library perhaps Steve could provide the evidence.” But I am more interested in talking about the library’s future than arguing about what’s go on in the past and political point scoring. “I’m really excited by the idea of Upper Norwood becoming a community library – I think this is a model that can be applied to lots of public services. “I’m looking forward to meeting with representatives from the Save Upper Norwood Library campaign to hear their plans and if I am elected as the next MP for Croydon North I would lobby all the councils in the area to provide sufficient funding to ensure that the people of Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood get the library service they deserve”.
LIBRARY QUESTION AND ANSWER
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE sent several written questions to Steve Reed prior to his nomination as Labour candidate. The responses all come from a Lambeth council spokesman.
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE: Why is it that Lambeth have taken no legal action against Croydon council over any issue surrounding Upper Norwood joint library – especially over Croydon’s decision to give UNJL just £75,000 in each of the next two years?
LAMBETH COUNCIL: Lambeth council has continued to reserve the right to refer Croydon’s purported decision to terminate the joint agreement to arbitration. Invoking a legal process would potentially be at significant cost to the taxpayer, negotiation between the two councils is currently proceeding.
The issue of the level of funding now agreed through democratic process by Croydon council cabinet is not something that Lambeth council has grounds to challenge legally.
Lambeth council cabinet made a decision in July to award £170,000 for each of the following years based on a proportionate reduction in Lambeth library service and has consistently stated that the local community should be at the heart of future decisions on how this resource is used to provide library services.
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE: The CPCA (Crystal Palace Community Association) made the following submission to Croydon council’s scrutiny committee meeting: “9):The CPCA notes the term, ‘the employer of last resort’ at ‘7.1 Human Resources Impact’ of the Croydon Report. The CPCA asks whether Lambeth have been consulted on this matter and if not, how legally, constitutionally and procedurally this would apply, in view of the fact that the independent and jointly-funded UNJLA has never been part of any Croydon council department, division, directorate or section of the Croydon library service.”
Have Croydon consulted with Lambeth on this matter. If so, what was Lambeth’s response?
LAMBETH COUNCIL: Lambeth council continue to have dialogue with Croydon council in terms of the legal and human resources implications of the reductions in funding.
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE: The officers report to the Croydon scrutiny committee (3.5.3 last paragraph on page 21 stated: “….the revenue settlement agreed by Lambeth for its nine libraries (excluding the UNJL) for 2012-14, the highest allocation for 2013/14 is for Brixton library (£525k) with the lowest being Carnegie (£110k). “The average revenue settlement for the nine libraries is £280k, with five libraries being allocated £194k or less.”
Please could you confirm the accuracy of these figures. Why is the sum for Carnegie the lowest? (I’ve tried Googling this information but to no avail).
LAMBETH COUNCIL: In July, Lambeth council cabinet agreed funding allocations for each library in Lambeth, details of this and the methodology can be found in the Cabinet papers and supporting documents: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=225&MId=8105 *
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE: What would you say to any UNJL user who feels, rightly or wrongly, that Lambeth has been dragging their heels and done nothing?
LAMBETH COUNCIL: Lambeth Council has consistently remained committed to library services for the broader Upper Norwood community. Throughout the consultation on the future of libraries in Lambeth, there has been a proposal to both continue funding the library and for future decisions to be made by the local community.
Lambeth Council is working alongside the UNJL staff, the coalition and local community groups.
*N.B: These relate to the Lambeth council cabinet meeting held on Monday July 9th
CROYDON NORTH BY-ELECTION 2012 / KINGSWOOD HOUSE CONSULTATION
5 NovTHE FOLLOWING item has appeared in the Conservatives ’North Croydon News’ headlined ‘A Community Library for Upper Norwood’:
“Our Conservative council has said it will top up the money Lambeth has offered for a community group to take over Upper Norwood joint library.
“They are the only council in the country that provides funding for a library outside its borough.
“Andy (that’s Conservative candidate Andy Stranack) tells North Croydon News: ‘The people of Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood deserve access to a decent library just as much as everyone else in Croydon. “I think it’s a great idea for the community to run this library and I’ll lobby all the councils in the area to ensure that it has a sufficient budget”.
So that will include Croydon council, will it Andy?
The article has been posted on the Virtual Norwood blog spot with the first respondent saying: “You couldn’t make it up.”
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT candidate Marisha Ray visited Upper Norwood joint library this morning (Tuesday) with former Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick. Speaking outside the library after her visit Marisha said: “The library is a hub for the community.
“I was speaking with local residents yesterday – chosen at random. “I asked them about the library. “Everyone knew it was under threat. “Everyone wanted to join me this morning but some people had work. “There’s universal support for this library in the local community.”
LAMBETH COUNCIL leader Steve Reed has been picked as the Labour candidate for the Croydon North by-election, narrowly beating Val Shawcross, London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark to the nomination.
Apart from the three main parties the other candidates named so far are: Lee Jasper (Respect); Sasha Khan (Green party) and Winston McKenzie (UKIP).
KINGSWOOD HOUSE CONSULTATION
PEOPLE ARE being asked for their ideas on Kingswood House with a special open day this Wednesday (November 7th).
Southwark council say there is a need to carry out “extensive and very expensive” works to comply more fully with maintenance responsibilities and to provide spaces to hire that conform to modern standards.
“Since the community centre and library opened in 1956 Kingswood has hosted conferences, weddings and other events as well as letting rooms for schools, training and office use -in order to fund its continued existence. “But in recent times the building has been under-utilised.”
Architects John McAslan and partners have been working with Southwark council and immediate stakeholders to investigate sustainable options for the refurbishment of Kingswood. Now they would like to talk to the wider local community as part of this process and discuss some initial ideas for the future of the building.
Southwark are asking anyone to drop in at Kingswood House, Seeley Drive, Dulwich from 2pm to 8pm on Wednesday. If you are unable to attend but wish to see and / or discuss proposals please email [email protected]
