ePetition details
Keep Preston Library Open
We oppose the closure of Preston Library, a cost-efficient local service that is well used by all the local community.
It provides essential facilities for some of our community, particularly senior citizens and those with limited mobility, schoolchildren, and the unemployed and others who may not have access to a computer.
Preston Library service is more accessible and meets the needs of a greater number of local people than would a multimillion-pound mega-library at Wembley Stadium, to which many users would find it difficult to travel.
We demand that Brent Council give adequate time and due consideration to alternatives plans to the closure of Preston Library, including the revision of proposals for the library at the Civic Centre.
We also oppose the sale or disposal of the Preston Library site
for any redevelopment that does not include a public library for
the use of local citizens.
This ePetition ran from 02/02/2011 to 02/05/2011 and has now finished.
421 people signed this ePetition.
Council response
The Council's Executive considered this petition on 11 July 2011
and resolved:
i) that agreement be given to a transformed library service to
residents as set out at paragraph 4 of the report from the Director
of Environment and Neighbourhood Services, which contains detailed
service proposals for:
• Library Service Objectives
• Services
• Stock
• Buildings
• Online and digital services
• Support for children, young people and families
• Support for learners
• Support for older people and people who find it difficult to
access library services
• Services for people with disabilities
• Staff
• Customer and Community Engagement
• Partners and partnership working
• The cultural offer
(ii) that agreement be given to the continuation of the successful
shared service approach and the further development of proposals to
share functions with partners, including other London boroughs, as
described in para 5.6 and Appendix 1 of the Director’s
report;
(iii) that the following libraries be closed:
Barham Park
Cricklewood
Kensal Rise
Neasden
Preston
Tokyngton
(iv) that Property and Asset Management undertake a detailed
options appraisal on each of the six buildings being vacated by the
Library Service with a further report to this Executive by the end
of July 2011 and prior to any final decisions being made about
possible disposals or changes of use;
(v) that a report be submitted in one year’s time reporting
on the progress of implementing the Project.
These decisions are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.