Herne Hill Conservative Action Team,

495 Norwood Road,

SE27 9BP,

Email: conservatives@myhernehill.com

 

20^th August 2009

 

Cllr Rachel Heywood,

Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities,

Lambeth Town Hall,

SW2 1RW

Email: rheywood@lambeth.gov.uk

 

Dear Cllr Heywood,

 

Open letter – the future of The Carnegie Library (by email and post)

 

On July 27^th 2009 the Lambeth Cabinet approved the Annual Property Performance Report 2008/09 without amendments or challenges to any of the recommendations contained within the Report.

 

Regarding The Carnegie Library, the Report states: “High running costs and poor location suggest this facility should be closed and relocated to Herne Hill. A move to close the facility was resisted by councillors and residents in 98/99. This property would be ideal for sale for a private residential flat conversion.”

 

This has raised real concerns among local residents and activist groups about the future of The Carnegie Library as located in its current building.

 

Whilst Labour councillors and the local MP have sought to dismiss the threat to The Carnegie Library, at no point have they responded on point to the recommendations contained in the Annual Property Performance report 2008/09 and confirmed that the Carnegie Library will remain in its current grade II listed building.

 

We therefore remain concerned that local residents’ concerns about the future of The Carnegie Library have not been properly answered and need to be addressed without equivocation.

 

Please could you confirm that:

 

1                    Lambeth Labour rejects the recommendation of the Annual Property Performance Report 2008/2009 regarding The Carnegie Library.

2                    Labour Lambeth does not agree to the Carnegie Library being moved from its current building.

3                    Labour Lambeth confirms that it will not sell the current Carnegie Library building for residential accommodation, or any other purpose.

4                    Labour Lambeth will record its commitments 1-3 above in the minutes at the next Cabinet meeting and amend The Annual Property Performance Report 2008/09.

 

If we do not receive a response to this letter within 10 working days of the above date we will assume that Lambeth Labour is unable to make the above commitment regarding the future of The Carnegie Library.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

The Herne Hill Conservative Action Team

Kemi Adegoke                                      Hamish Badenoch                Bettie Morton                       Andrew Tuson

(Parliamentary Candidate)                  (Council Candidate)             (Council Candidate)             (Council Candidate)

 

cc.

Stephen Carlill – Chair, Friends of Carnegie Library

Hannah Walker - Editor, South London Press

Neill Denny – Editor-in-Chief, The Bookseller