Agenda item

A petition has been received in the following terms:

We, the undersigned, petition Brent Council to:

Pause the Willesden Green Library Centre regeneration plans to allow for full consultation with residents in order to ascertain their views on how the area should be developed and the amenities that should be provided or retained.

It has approximately £3,600 names.

Miki Berenyi addressed the Executive on behalf of petitioners who had requested that the council “pause” the Willesden Green Library regeneration plan which she said was unpopular with residents and would result in the loss of communal space, the Victorian former Willesden Library building and also the village-feel to the area. The community wanted a new library but not as currently planned. Ms Berenyi called for full consultation, referred to the meetings with residents that had taken place in February 2011 which she felt were inadequate and urged the Executive to devise new plans that everyone supported.

Councillor Sneddon (ward councillor) spoke in support of the petitioners against the plans for the regeneration of Willesden Green Library. He stated that residents were disillusioned over the consultation process and felt that there should have been consultation on fundamental issues at the outset on what improvements people would like to see and what parts of the site should be retained.

Councillor Hunter (ward councillor) advised that she had been part of the original consultation exercise in February 2011. She felt that however long the consultation process was, there would still be the dilemma of whether or not to retain the existing Victorian frontage. Some people felt very strongly about the retention of architectural features, while other residents held the view that it was now time to look forward. As the former Willesden Library was a locally listed building there would be a requirement to demonstrate how any new development enhanced the area. The new Civic Centre being built in the Wembley area would be an asset and so would the new Willesden Green development need to be. Councillor Hunter referred to the current facilities which she felt needed to be redesigned and not just updated. There was currently a lot of wasted space, the cinema was unable to compete with the nearby alternatives and she was pleased that the new proposals included a café/bookshop. There would also be extensive provision for contact services desks in the new centre. Councillor Hunter was confident that the issues would be fully debated and while it was unrealistic to expect universal agreement, she recognised that members were democratically elected to make decisions. She stressed the need for the project to be properly managed and looked forward to a first class facility that would be enjoyed for decades to come.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Major Projects) addressed in turn concerns raised over the proposed Willesden Green Library Centre development. He assured that all views expressed had been listened to. The consultation which the developers had started had paused while the planning application was being submitted and would continue as part of the planning process. He assured there had been no breach of due process. He accepted that people had differing views on the architectural significance of the old library building the historical significance of which he felt should be celebrated within the confines of the new centre should the building not be retained. Councillor Crane added that consideration would be given to finding bookshop space as part of a café and also to having communal space at the front of the centre. These efforts were further indications of the extent to which the council was listening to views. The council was trying to achieve a centre that was fit for the 21^st century and for the south of the borough and he rejected the calls to delay what he considered to be a worthwhile project.

RESOLVED:

that the petition be noted.