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Workmen prepare to board up Kensal Rise library

13.10.11 | Benedicte Page

Around 50 demonstrators, including women with children, are gathering outside Kensal Rise library in Brent this afternoon (13th October) as workmen prepare to board up the door and windows.

The library was closed this morning, with a notice on display saying it would be closed until 2pm to allow for a staff briefing. But when demonstrators returned from today's High Court verdict, a further notice stated the library would be closed "until further notice." Workmen have measured the building's doors and windows and are preparing to board it up.

It is thought that the same measures are also being employed on the remaining five libraries due for closure by the council following the judge's dismissal of the campaigners' claims this morning.

Meanwhile reaction to this morning's judgement has come in from CILIP. Chief executive Annie Mauger said: "We will be studying this judgment carefully for its national implications. However there can be little doubt of the immense disappointment thousands of users in Brent and elsewhere will feel. Once again this has shown how much libraries mean to local people and once again both national and local politicians need to understand the depths of this feeling. Libraries should be seen as part of way out of the recession and not as an easy service to cut".
 

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By Jackanory

The problem with local council cuts of any kind is - and always has been - that turkeys are never going to vote for Xmas.

As long as the cuts are in the hands of highly-salaried officials, councillors and public will always be presented with phoney binary choices which steer the cuts well away from the officials concerned. They'll sack any number of cleaners, library staff, what-have-you, but the millions spent in top salaries are effectively ring-fenced.

Fri, 14/10/2011 - 09:27
By Shirley Burnham

The vulgar haste demonstrated by Brent Council's 'boarding up'of Kensal Rise Library and 5 others today of all days does nothing to diminish a growing national conviction that Labour councillors are no less nasty and vindictive a bunch as their clones in the ConLib coatlition. All have contempt for the residents and indifference to their wishes. This display of loutish behaviour, a deliberate thumbing of their noses at those who pay their allowances, fees and expenses will, I trust, serve to bring them to a very sticky end.

Thu, 13/10/2011 - 18:12
By MH

I was on a walking holiday two w/ends ago, in Ilkley, Yorkshire. As I passed the town library, a father and small boy came out of the building. The boy was clutching a large colourful book - and beaming at it with delight. I was instantly choked by the thought of children (and adults) across the UK being denied this. It is, in my view, utterly irresponsible to cut such a service from our lives.

Thu, 13/10/2011 - 16:58
By MH

I was on a walking holiday two w/ends ago, in Ilkley, Yorkshire. As I passed the town library, a father and small boy came out of the building. The boy was clutching a large colourful book - and beaming at it with delight. I was instantly choked by the thought of children (and adults) across the UK being denied this. It is, in my view, utterly irresponsible to cut such a service from our lives.

Thu, 13/10/2011 - 16:58
By Shirley Burnham

The vulgar haste demonstrated by Brent Council's 'boarding up'of Kensal Rise Library and 5 others today of all days does nothing to diminish a growing national conviction that Labour councillors are no less nasty and vindictive a bunch as their clones in the ConLib coatlition. All have contempt for the residents and indifference to their wishes. This display of loutish behaviour, a deliberate thumbing of their noses at those who pay their allowances, fees and expenses will, I trust, serve to bring them to a very sticky end.

Thu, 13/10/2011 - 18:12
By Jackanory

The problem with local council cuts of any kind is - and always has been - that turkeys are never going to vote for Xmas.

As long as the cuts are in the hands of highly-salaried officials, councillors and public will always be presented with phoney binary choices which steer the cuts well away from the officials concerned. They'll sack any number of cleaners, library staff, what-have-you, but the millions spent in top salaries are effectively ring-fenced.

Fri, 14/10/2011 - 09:27

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