LEYTONSTONE: 1000 sign petition to save library (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
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LEYTONSTONE: 1000 sign petition to save library
12:56pm Monday 11th July 2011 in News
MORE then a thousand people have signed a petition calling for a library in a deprived part of the borough to be saved from closure.
Harrow Green Library in Leytonstone is a vital community resource for people in an area blighted by crime, over-crowded housing, poverty and poor health, according to campaigners.
Along with South Chingford Library, it has been earmarked for closure as part of a cost-cutting review of the service across the borough.
Former councillor Vi Gostling, who was made a member of the British empire (MBE) for 60 years of service to the community, opened the library in 1960.
She has drafted a letter to be read out at a Ward Forum meeting tonight, which she can't attend due to ill health.
She wrote: “I am grieved beyond words that I cannot take part in this campaign.
“I and previous borough council Labour Party colleagues fought to complete and open this library after the war.
“We celebrated the opening of Harrow Green Library last year - 50 years of its great success as a library and a cultural development.
“At this stage, with all the known needs in the two adjacent wards of Cathall and Cann Hall, and the promise of more difficult times to come, it is absolutely criminal to remove any positive social and educational force.
“I implore the council to consider the needs, and particularly the young people, of this area before they take such a shameful action.”
Ros Kane, 49, of Matcham Road, Leytonstone, runs a local charity providing support to children from difficult backgrounds.
She has been taking the petition door-to-door and said many did not know the library may be closing.
Ms Kane added: “People are absolutely shocked.
“Children in the area are often cooped up in flats - they need places like libraries so they can move around and discover new things.
“The Cathall area is one of the most deprived in the country and people need positive facilities on their doorstep.
“It is a place where you can feel rested from the stresses of life - explore new books, tapes or a DVD, bump into your neighbours, or just sit and think.
The council says it has no choice but to close the two libraries due to an unprecedented cut in Government funding.
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Comments(4)
Sam Hain
says...
7:01pm Mon 11 Jul 11
mdj
says...
9:36pm Mon 11 Jul 11
With a cloud hanging over the properties mismanaged by O-Regen, and Pastures Youth Centre apparently at risk, Harrow Green library is a small island of public provision in a sea of desolation.
Ask your Councillors why the library service has to lose £1 million p.a, when O-Regen can throw away a
similar amount while local bigwigs sat around watching, and the Council can give away land worth £5 million to its cronies, and not pursue the failed management of Ascham Homes for a similar wasted sum.
Just bear in mind the equation:
Library cut 20%; Councillors' salary cut 5%.
Walthamster
says...
10:11pm Wed 13 Jul 11
And libraries aren't being closed by this year's government cuts. Waltham Forest council was cutting libraries and sending books to the incinerator in 2007, when the economy was booming.
St James Street Library was closed that year, to help fund the councillors' latest payrise.
Helen, Walthamstow says...
3:19pm Mon 11 Jul 11
MBE = Member of the Order of the British Empire;
"Former councillor" - Vi Gostling was a councillor for the old Leyton Borough Council and stepped down when it amalgamated with the other boroughs way back in 1965. She was the last Deputy Mayor of Leyton;
Perhaps more relevant to the point, she chaired Waltham Forest Arts Council until only a few years ago, is currently President of the Woodhouse Players in Leytonstone and is also President of the Leytonstone Festival.