The plan to site a centre for recovering drug addicts in the former St James St Library building in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, has been scrapped (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting WFNEWS to 80360, or email us
The plan to site a centre for recovering drug addicts in the former St James St Library building in Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, has been scrapped
5:33pm Wednesday 1st July 2009 in
THE former St James Street Library building will not become a drug treatment centre and is to be sold off.
Council leader Cllr Chris Robbins confirmed the library, in Coppermill Lane, is to be sold off within weeks after continued lobbying from local campaign groups.
He said: "I've asked the chief executive to dispose of the property as quickly as possible."
Cllr Robbins cited community opposition, as well as opposition from ward councillor and cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Liaquat Ali as the main reasons for the decision.
Cllr Robbins, who had previously described the centre as a "wonderful addition" to the area, said: "A facility of that sort needs a welcoming community which we clearly don't have in Coppermill Lane."
However, he was adamant that the drug treatment centre would still go ahead in a different location.
"It's a major issue for the borough," Cllr Robbins said.
"I can't leave those vulnerable people stranded without this facility."
He added that there were comparatively few potential locations for the centre and that the council may have to buy a new building.
Cllr Robbins said: "I want the opposition parties not to play politics with this one so that we can get down to some decision.
"It's going to be very, very difficult and I don't know where there's another property.
"If we have to buy it, it will cost us money we don't have."
Cllr Robbins said officers would be working over the summer to find another solution.
The decision to sell, if it goes ahead, would kill off any hope that the building will be re-opened as a library.
Janet Wright, of the St James Street Library campaign, said: "It is very sad that the new leader of the council, instead of coming up with something useful has shown a complete lack of vision , and a poverty of aspiration for the people of this area.
"It is disappointing that we have a large area with no community facilities of any kind at all.
"I am very, very disappointed but the campaign will continue."
Comments(17)
Walthamster
says...
6:12pm Wed 1 Jul 09
What a bunch of no-hopers.
No wonder they're running around in a panic deselecting each other.
Can't wait for next year's elections.
Techno2
says...
8:03pm Wed 1 Jul 09
The motivation for the action in the stoty is that a corrupt Labour clique know they are on their way out. It may seem cynical but they see it as a quick chance to plunder the public's assets with a little help from some of their parasitic friends. And as light relief the gang get to make the hapless local councillor look like a complete fools in the process.
No-one is laughing at the end of the novel however.
Market walker
says...
9:11pm Wed 1 Jul 09
Phew, what a relief to know we have such mature thinkers in charge of our council.
Silversurfer
says...
9:57pm Wed 1 Jul 09
Cllr Matt Davis
says...
12:08am Thu 2 Jul 09
Techno2
says...
1:18am Thu 2 Jul 09
Cllr Matt Davis wrote:Do you pocket the allowances despite being so totally ineffective?
No Silversurfer (shame you won't use your real name like I do) I do not get to "green light" anything in Waltham Forest since the Council is, badly, run by your friends in the Labour & LibDem parties and they decide what happens.
jack de large
says...
7:28am Thu 2 Jul 09
carolinem
says...
9:57am Thu 2 Jul 09
glemail.com
Cllr Robbins now has a chance to show that he is more imaginative and prepared to listen to residents, than his predecessor as council leader. A thorough survey last year showed local residents would very much welcome an appropriate development - either a library or a community centre with a library element. If you live in this part of the borough, all positive council run services (eg adult education classes, youth centres, etc) are a long bus ride away. The library was the last public centre in this area, which is why its closure caused such anger. Come on Cllr Robbins, rather than disparaging the local community as 'unwelcoming', work with us to show us that you aren't just Loakes version 2!"
carolinem
says...
10:02am Thu 2 Jul 09
still, given that this end of the borough desperately needs regenerating and since woolworths closed, there's very little to pull people down this end of the market, perhaps the council will consider a more imaginative solution than flogging the buildilng off (especially seeing as they don't seem capable of raising any money on even what should be a hugely lucrative site at the other end of the market).
carolinem
says...
10:04am Thu 2 Jul 09
still, given that this end of the borough desperately needs regenerating and since woolworths closed, there's very little to pull people down this end of the market, perhaps the council will consider a more imaginative solution than flogging the buildilng off (especially seeing as they don't seem capable of raising any money on even what should be a hugely lucrative site at the other end of the market).
LarryTLemur
says...
11:49am Thu 2 Jul 09
That's Waltham Forest for you. If someone wrote a factual account of the incompetence, dodgy deals and corruption in this place nobody outside the borough would ever believe it.
Unity
says...
12:32pm Thu 2 Jul 09
Cllr Matt Davis wrote:Why is it a shame that a "real name" isn't given ? If a real name isn't given how do you know who this person's friends are ?
No Silversurfer (shame you won't use your real name like I do) I do not get to "green light" anything in Waltham Forest since the Council is, badly, run by your friends in the Labour & LibDem parties and they decide what happens.
However of more interest would be to know what you (and your friends if you've got any) propose should happen to the library.
mdj
says...
2:18pm Thu 2 Jul 09
Techno2
says...
3:25pm Fri 3 Jul 09
LarryTLemur wrote:They would also have to contend with the laws of libel and/ or capacity of greedy people to find ways to defend their interests.
carolinem said "ah techno2 apologies i have read your post again and realised that you are talking about a fictional story (its hard to tell with this council!)." That's Waltham Forest for you. If someone wrote a factual account of the incompetence, dodgy deals and corruption in this place nobody outside the borough would ever believe it.
In my novel it would be an interesting twist in the plot if the rumours were founded on conversations between councillors across party lines, which may have taken place some months prior to the recent events, maybe even prior to the ill-fated drug centre idea being floated as a canarde which would never take off- prior to the sell off.
iffa106
says...
9:34pm Tue 7 Jul 09
wooddragon9
says...
10:54pm Tue 7 Jul 09
More News stories
- WALTHAM FOREST: Sixth form teachers set to strike
- WALTHAM FOREST: New advice service at Whipps Cross
- WALTHAMSTOW: Free goodies and advice on keeping warm
- WALTHAMSTOW: Car chase suspect still at large
- LEYTON: Thousands of Muslims join Milaad march
- WALTHAMSTOW: Couple face wait to evict squatters
- WALTHAM FOREST: Olympic campsites planned for 'college and Ive Farm'
- WALTHAM FOREST: Café murder accused faces court
- WALTHAMSTOW: Community hall petition collects more than 3000 signatures
- CHINGFORD: Teens charged over violent mugging
St James Street library campaigners earlier this year
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Dave Hall says...
6:09pm Wed 1 Jul 09
Why do we have to lose our library for ever? the community here is crying out for it. It cost buttons to run, and the librarians were lovely...