Waltham Forest Council's leader Chris Robbins' plan to sell the former St James St library building, in Coppermill Lane, has caused a new row (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Waltham Forest Council's leader Chris Robbins' plan to sell the former St James St library building, in Coppermill Lane, has caused a new row

10:31am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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LIBERAL Democrat group leader John Macklin has vowed to oppose the selling off of the former St James St library building.

Labour council leader Cllr Robbins was hoping to site a drug treatment centre in the building, in Coppermill Lane, but has now shelved the plan following opposition from Lib Dem cabinet members and his Labour colleague Cllr Liaquat Ali.

In an unexpected u-turn Cllr Robbins has said the building will be sold within weeks, effectively ending the hopes of campaigners who want the building re-opened as a library or other communtiy facility.

But a Cllr Macklin is angry that he has not been consulted about the sale.

Cllr John Macklin, Lib Dem group leader and deputy council leader, said: "Cllr Robbins’ announcement is news to me particularly as we are in the middle of a comprehensive review of all the properties the council owns.

"No council property I’m responsible for will be sold until the review is complete.”

The review is unlikely to be complete until the Autumn.

Cllr Macklin said: "If Cllr Robbins had really listened to residents he would have relaised they want the building brought back into community use.

But he added: "We need though to take Cllr Robbins's comments with a pinch of salt, as only two weeks ago he was supporting the drug treatment centre plan.

Cllr James O'Rourke, and Johar Khan both Lib Dem members and High Street ward councillors, described Cllr Robbins act as a "fit of spite".

Cllr Robbins' u-turn was also criticised by Conservative group leader Matt Davis.

Cllr Davis said: "It is a shame that there is to be this knee jerk sale of the property, at a time when its value is so low, when it ought to be returned to being a library as local people want.

"The council also needs to understand that a facility of this nature cannot be put in the middle of a residential area without there being massive public opposition to that.

"It is time to get real about siting the drug treatment centre and look in an existing industrial area for a suitable building available to rent."