I see my friend standing on the street on a very cold February morning, getting people sign a petition. “What a dedication and perseverance”, I think. I know why he may be there. And indeed, he never gave up hope about our Library.
What is all the fuss?
The North Kensington Library building is being leased to a local private school. “Not fit for purpose any more”, the council sold people the idea of a brand new, better building just across the street.
But is it?
And why is the old building not kept for public use?
I read from the leaflet he is handing out:
“The wider community have not been given an opportunity to develop ideas and put together ALTERNATIVE PLANS to keep North Kensington Library in public use.”
“RBKC have described the planned new library as bigger and better when there will be NO SEPARATE CHILDREN’S LIBRARY, NO COMPUTER/QUIET STUDY ROOM and the net gain on all floor space accounting for all the available floor space in the current library is marginal...”
“NHPL (Notting Hill Preparatory School Limited) could be offered the market rate lease on the whole of the planned MULTI USE BUILDING in addition to the two top floors that RBKC have already planned to lease to the school and neighbouring Chepstow House, creating a revenue stream that would cover the cost of the initial investment for Council Tax payers and compensating them for the loss of the Isaac Newton Centre / Youth Club land.”
And I would so much love to see a theatre and a much needed creative venue in the old building, which was apparently build through the generosity of local people and first opened to the public in 1891.
So I sign the petition, take some leaflets to give to people and write this article.
Its my library, my children grew up with the children's library story and song time.
https://www.change.org/p/governors-of-notting-hill-prep-school-please-d…