Lobby against the civic vandalism of library closure

Published: 25 February, 2011

• WESTMINSTER City Council plans to close the St James’s Library in Victoria Street in September 2011 to save £357,000. 

The library, which is used extensively by residents, schools and local workers, was relocated to Victoria Street in the late 1990s following the closure and sale of the Great Smith Street Library.

The effect will be significant; council officers say that the “negative impact is likely to be greater on those living in and around Old Pye Street estate, particularly older people with mobility issues, as they will be the furthest away from alternative provision”.

The closure is yet another front-line service that has become the victim of too-deep and too-fast Tory cuts. The closure is an act of civic vandalism which would not be necessary if the council had not spent nearly £4million on 12 temporary staff, all of whom cost the council over £500 a day.

There has been no consultation with  library users on this monumental folly.

We have called on library users to lobby the council meeting on March 2 when the closure is due to be rubber-stamped.

CLLR PAUL DIMOLDENBERG
Leader of the Labour Group