Lambeth council’s planning committee last night backed an application to excavate the basement of the Carnegie library in Herne Hill so that it can be used as a gym run by the council’s leisure provider GLL.
Other changes to the building the committee agreed include a new entrance and a reduction in size of the library’s garden.
The committee imposed a “specific use condition” on the ground floor to say that its only use must be as a library and “community space”.
[…] is the only Labour councillor of nearly 60 on the council to have opposed the conversion of the library to a “community centre” with a gym in a newly dug basement and a library service above run by […]
[…] Brixton Blog : 8th February Lambeth | Carnegie library planning go‑ahead to excavate the basement for use as a gym run by GLL https://brixtonblog.com/carnegie-library-planning-go-ahead/42827 […]
This week, George Monbiot writes a great article in the Guardian about the importance of local community in building a better society. Several times, he cites research commissioned by Lambeth with evidence for the power and character of local community building.
But what have Lambeth learned from this study (commissioned at our expense, of course) – absolutely nothing! Maybe they looked at the report and decided that local community power was frightening, and cooked up some schemes that would cut if off at the knees before it challenged their madness too much.
Closing down libraries, colluding with network Rail to destroy locally run shops, selling off council estates, systematically undermining the viability of Brixton Market – the list goes on.
Shameful.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/08/take-back-control-bottom-up-communities#comment-92973101
The library was already a community hub and heathy living centre when open and fully operational, thanks to our Library Manager, her staff and the Friends.
Carnegie Library Users Consultative Group, formed by Friends and eight clubs/groups based in the library, has been running since Spring 2015 and could form basis for proposed liaison group. Also Lambeth’s cooperative libraries policy says council must work with Friends groups. We know the neighbourhood and building inside out and could keep a watchful eye and contribute to meaningful dialogue.
It is not the Friends who applied for asset transfer, but Carnegie Library Association, a membership charity comprising the above community groups and over 300 members who support the business plan. There are nine trustees at present, with Friends committee members in the minority. An AGM will be held next month.