Residents Urged To Sign Libraries Petition
Opposition councillors say don't be fooled by claims of ' consultation'
Ealing residents are being urged to sign an online petition to save seven Ealing Libraries under threat of closure.
Cllr Seema Kumar, Conservative Opposition Member for Council Services said, “I urge residents to sign the on-line petition. Labour’s plan to consult means closure for not 1, 2, or 3, but 7 libraries. Failure of any viable proposals coming forward from VOLUNTEER Community groups means the library premises will be sold off. This will completely disseminate this valuable service and once gone, it will never be replaced.
Labour claims it’s about saving money, but that argument is no longer valid. Despite presenting an alternative proposal to save the libraries approved by the Council’s Finance Chief, Labour Councillors all rejected the proposal. In doing so, Labour has demonstrated that they are not interested in providing good library services for our residents and students.''
The proposed closures put forward are Greenford; Hanwell; Northfields; Perivale; Pitshanger; West Ealing and Wood End Libraries.
The petition reads:
We call on Ealing Council to commit to keeping the following seven Libraries: Greenford; Hanwell; Northfields; Perivale; Pitshanger; West Ealing and Wood End open given their recent announcement that council support will be withdrawn.
We ask Ealing Council to pledge that if no viable community organisation comes forward to take over the running of these libraries, that they will continue to keep the libraries open, so that residents are able to keep using this valuable community resource.
It currently has just over 750 signatures and 1,500 are needed to trigger a debate in the council - it remains open until Saturday 23rd March.
20 March 2019