An update from Northfield Ward Councillor David Millican
There has been a huge groundswell of support to save Northfields Library from closure. More than 1,000 local people have signed the petition that Councillors Mark Reen, Phil Taylor and I organised as Northfields Councillors. So thank you to all those of you who signed it. And thank you to all of you who came to the packed public meeting at Northfields Community Centre some weeks ago. I am excited that there is also a second petition to save our library. All this demonstrates the strength of feeling amongst our community.
1,000 signatures is sufficient to trigger a debate at Full Council, which we will do on Tuesday 14 June. There will also be a petition presented to save Hanwell Library. Full Council is a public meeting and we urge you to attend to show your support. It would be great if you came early at 6:30 pm for a photo on the Town Hall steps.
We have a multi-pronged approach to ensure that the Labour controlled Council understands the depth of feeling. The Labour Council have made their choice that Libraries have less value than other priorities, such as building a new £5M car park in Southall.
We have also called a special meeting of the Council's powerful cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Committee to scrutinise the proposed closure of all five libraries, ie also the Mobile Library, Northolt Leisure Centre Library, Hanwell Library and Perivale Library. This will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday 28 June
The Labour Council's Cabinet will decide the fate of the libraries on Tuesday 5 July, so we shall keep up the pressure until then.
Another Councillor has been appointed to oversee the proposed library closures, namely Cllr Ranjit Dheer; so I ask you to write to him with your views at - ranjit.dheer@ealing.gov.uk
I hope you can come and show your support next Tuesday 14 June and on Tuesday 28 June at the Town Hall
Councillor David Millican
Representing Northfield Ward
Leader of the Conservative Opposition
June 9, 2011