News

Deadline looms for Lewisham library closures

26.05.11 | Benedicte Page

Lewisham library campaigners have been left stranded as the 28th May closure date for New Cross library approached without word from the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to residents or the council.

Residents Peter and Patricia Richardson had called on culture minister Ed Vaizey to intervene over the closure or transfer of five libraries on Saturday. In a letter received this week, they were told the department was “endeavouring to send a full response by 6th June at the latest”, a week after the closure date.

A Lewisham council spokesperson said that as of yesterday (25th May) the council, which was called in to meet the DCMS in early April to discuss the campaigners’ concerns, had received no recommendations as a result of that meeting.

A DCMS spokesperson said: “We are not prepared to give a running commentary on individual authorities. We will make public any information or decisions at the appropriate time.”

The spokesperson said the DCMS was continuing to monitor and assess proposals and decisions being made about changes to library services across England, and took “very seriously” compliance by local authorities with their statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Campaigner Desmond Clarke called the response extraordinary. “They seem to be sitting on their hands throughout this,” he said. “Within the 1964 Act a provision was made to allow for local inquiries, provided local residents had grounds for complaint and the council was failing to meet its obligations.

“You have to allow people to have a voice. For some reason, the DCMS seems to be ignoring that responsibility and provision.”

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By Shirley Burnham

Can one conclude that DCMS is complicit in allowing the the Law to be broken ? A serious suggestion, indeed. Lewisham is the litmus test.

Thu, 26/05/2011 - 09:44
By jean

To paraphase one old man: it's not a serious crime, and all a media brouhaha.

Thu, 26/05/2011 - 09:45
By Chris

In reply to Jean, it may not be a serious crime in her eyes, but the law is being broken, and this government is complicit in allowing it to happen. They will not rest until they have destroyed the public sector and turned us into a replica of the USA.

Thu, 26/05/2011 - 11:51
By Booksurfer

Lewisham Campaigners should send Ed Vaizey an FOI request, asking for every scrap of paper that he may have about Lewisham Libraries including internal DCMS notes about decisions not to respond. Lets smoke him out!!

Thu, 26/05/2011 - 13:26
By P. Richardson

Thank you Booksurfer. We have the results of some FoI, but your suggestion covers it all. Geronimo!!
If this is not dealt with Ed Vaizey can say this is policy. If it is policy we all have to take action to hold him to account.
Actually he cannot win. What Lewisham is doing does not provide a comprehensive and efficient service for all residents. Since when was it OK to provide a 2 tier system to people paying the same taxes?
If he says it is wrong he has to deal with it, hence HE hides away! No coincidence that Libraries in Oxfordshire have been given a reprieve, for the time being. Who lives in Oxfordshire? David Cameron? Ed Vaizey? Whose constituencies are in Oxfordshire? Ditto?
How did they do that?
Patricia Richardson

Thu, 26/05/2011 - 17:16
By gaggedlibraryworker

In response to Jean, will you think it a crime when the condems erase 'burdensome' legislation form the statute books ie the 1964 Act and the duty that local authorities have to consult with communities? Also it is not all media Brouhaha, some of us actually beleive that they are closing libraries and cutting services for ideoligical reasons, and we are witnessing it everyday!

Fri, 27/05/2011 - 12:26

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