Forum Topic

Isleworth Library - latest

Having finally managed to find out that the temporary caravan was not able to be placed in Redlees Park due to some difficulties with heating it, I took my books into the main Library in the Treaty Centre today. I tried to get some news of when we could expect some resumption of service locally, unfortunately no-one could tell me anything apart from that the work was not due for completion until the Summer. It seems this temporary service is a very well kept secret and is making me twitchy for some reason. I really hope that I am barking up the wrong tree but some assurances that Isleworth will get some - albeit reduced - library service in the not too distant future, and eventually a refurbished library as promised, would certainly put my mind at rest. After all how hard can it be to get a caravan with working electrics?

Vanessa Smith ● 5993d25 Comments

Yes, the point made to me was that the van should have been in a more prominent place, perhaps where the contractors are - right on the Twickenham Road, bit late now though. What about some mobile CCTV cameras down there?

Vanessa Smith ● 5934d

True.  Although one has to ask oneself whether leaving an unguarded mini bus full of books in an unlit car park between Saturday night and Monday morning was entirely wise.

Stella Hawkins ● 5934d

Thank-you for that, if only these little sh***s realised how much money they cost us with their vicious little games.

Vanessa Smith ● 5935d

VanessaA quick update on the mobile library at Isleworth. It has suffered some damage due to vandalism. It is currently in the workshop having the windscreen, side window and mirrors replaced. We are expecting it back today and should therefore have it back in service for the next library opening tomorrow Saturday.

Paul Fisher ● 5935d

Thank-you very much, I wouldn't blame anyone if they didn't bring it back for some little scrotes to do this again. Nothing is sacred it seems.

Vanessa Smith ● 5936d

I'm back on the case, Vanessa.

Phil Andrews ● 5936d

Looks as though the temporary library has gone again, I heard that it had been vandalised? Does anyone know if/when it will be returning? I was told, that the location was a bit out of the way. Perhaps if it is going to return it might be worth putting it somewhere where it can be seen clearly???? Meanwhile it's back to Hounslow main library, what a pain.

Vanessa Smith ● 5936d

I have today received the following e-mail from the Head of Leisure Services at Hounslow Council regarding the Isleworth LibraryPaulSorry for the delay in responding.The mobile library is now up and working.  There were problems with the electrical supply over the Christmas period but this is now resolved.  We met with Laing's this morning and raised this issue and have been assured that the mobile library will be there for the normal opening hours of the library.  Hamish  Head of Leisure and Cultural ServicesLondon Borough of Hounslowwww.Hounslow.gov.uk

Paul Fisher ● 5987d

There have been several major articles about library services being under threat in the Sunday papers for months. I am trusting that ours will re-appear in its refurbished splendour as promised, if it doesn't woe betide whoever is responsible, however, it is the immediate situation for Isleworth users that I am waiting to hear about.

Vanessa Smith ● 5988d

I visited my Dad in Wirral at New Year and he mentioned the DCMS Inquiry into Wirral's plan to restructure their library service (and close several of the smaller branch libraries).The report was fairly damning :http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/wirral_local_inquiry.pdfA Local Inquiry into the Public Library Service Provided by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Led by Sue Charteris September 2009.....1 The Local Public Inquiry into Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council’s (MBC) Library Service has found the Council’s decision to restructure its Library Service to be in breach of its statutory duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 , to provide “comprehensive and efficient public Library Services for all persons desirous to make use thereof”.2 The primary reason for this breach is that the Council failed to make an assessment of local needs (or alternatively to evidence knowledge of verifiable local needs) in respect of its Library Services. In the absence of such an assessment, I conclude that the Council therefore cannot have reasonably met such needs in the context of its statutory duties and available resources. Without any such reference point of the needs to be met, the Council was unable to identify a reasonable option for meeting such needs both comprehensively and efficiently......(whole report is 78 pages)

Tim Henderson ● 5989d

I'll mention it next time Ashy and I are having a beer together at the Isleworth Working Men's Club.Berk.

Phil Andrews ● 5991d

"Please point out where I have castigated Vanessa for "scaremongering" or anything else."Oh, I'm sorry, Phil. I was under the misapprehension that you were on this thread backing up your colleague Paul Fisher, who said this in his post of 31/12/09 (10.14am):-"Scaremongering at its finest Vanessa and clutching at straws springs to mind in your attempts to discredit the Administrations massive investment in libraries including the one in Isleworth".Can we take it then that you are distancing yourself from Paul's remarks?As for your comment that it has nothing to do with me and that I should "butt out" because I live in a neighbouring borough, I'm quite willing to "butt out" provided you can persuade the Belize-domiciled Lord Ashcroft to stop interfering in the Brentford & Isleworth constituency.Oh, and Happy New Year to you too.

Robin Taylor ● 5991d

RobinPlease point out where I have castigated Vanessa for "scaremongering" or anything else.Better still please have the grace and humility to understand that this is a discussion between residents of the London Borough of Hounslow about a local issue and therefore nothing to do with you, and butt out.Oh yes, and Happy New Year.

Phil Andrews ● 5991d

"The Lead Member, Councillor Adrian Lee, told you categorically that there were no existing plans to build anything on Gunnersbury Park."- Phil Andrews castigating Bela Cunha for "scaremongering" on the issue of Gunnersbury Park (Brentford Forum, 03/11/08)."There are absolutely no plans we are aware of to close Isleworth Library nor to diminish the service it provides..."- Phil Andrews castigating Vanessa Smith for "scaremongering" on the issue of Isleworth Library (Brentford Forum, 31/12/09).

Robin Taylor ● 5991d

JohnIs it really necessary to be gratuitously insulting?  Paul is nobody's poodle, least of all mine, and has in my view been one of the biggest success stories of the present council.  His performance as a ward councillor has been awesome and he has very much carved his own niche within the local political scene.  There are active and influential people in Isleworth - Vanessa knows some of them well - who were once so hostile to the community movement that they would cross the road whenever they saw me or any of my colleagues approaching.  Seeing these people sitting, and playing an active part, in our recent packed election meeting and knowing the part that Paul has played in bringing that reversal of attitude about was really quite humbling.Vanessa is a vociferous and frequent critic of this administration.  That is her right, but Paul's response to her was clearly mindful of that fact.  Nevertheless as I have already said I do share some of her concerns and we will be monitoring the situation very closely.

Phil Andrews ● 5991d

Is that the best response Phil's poodle can come up with?

John Connelly ● 5991d

BingoThe Connelly and Smith double act!!

Paul Fisher ● 5991d

Paul, was your nappy needing changing when you had your rant yesterday?

John Connelly ● 5991d

Thank-you.

Vanessa Smith ● 5991d

VanessaThere are no absolutely plans that we are aware of to close Isleworth Library nor to diminish the service it provides and for as long as we have anything to do with it this categorically will not happen.  I cannot, of course, speculate on what a future Conservative or Labour administration in which we had no part might do as nobody's election manifesto is likely to include anything about closing libraries.The plan is to create a modern leisure hub which incorporates both the Library and the Recreation Centre.  Those are the plans which came before SDC and which were approved.  The interim measures are of concern to me because they don't seem to be working as they should, which is why I am seeking more information and I will relay that information on this forum as and when I receive it (there's not much going on at the Civic Centre today or tomorrow as you will appreciate).  However I have no reason to believe that any such problems will be long-term.

Phil Andrews ● 5992d

Talk about seeing reds under the bed! What is wrong with you that you can't see that the prevarication around this is worrying???? What is happening re the temporary service we were told to expect? Why can't you get a straight answer to a straight question? I can assure you that no-one wants a refurbed library more than me, but given this administration's obsession of doing almost anything to keep the Council Tax at it's current level this might be a temptation too far. Would the Tories lose any sleep over Isleworth? You obviously know what's going on so instead of accusing people of having motives that you would subscribe to, some real information about when we can expect the interim service would be welcome.

Vanessa Smith ● 5992d

Scaremongering at its finest Vanessa and clutching at straws springs to mind in your attempts to discredit the Administrations massive investment in libraries including the one in IsleworthLets make this absolutely clear so even you can understand it,in the spring Isleworth will have a library we will all be extremely proud of as part of the new leisure Hub currently under construction as I am sure you are aware of.Do I detect a future Labour leaflet with more lies on the horizon on its way perhaps?

Paul Fisher ● 5992d

I think what is more worrying is that perhaps this will be an opportunity to close a branch library, I highly value the library service and really hope that we will get what has been proposed. I seem to remember Barbara Reid leading off during the Library Review some years ago over the need to keep Osterley library open when there were never any plans to touch it, we do need to be vigiliant as there have been many libraries lost all around the country.

Vanessa Smith ● 5992d

Some very experienced and long standing members of the library staff have left or are about to leave because they did not agree with the re-structuring by John Laing. It will leave the service short of experienced staff.

Neil Chippendale ● 5993d

VanessaWe as ward councillors are naturally concerned about this too.  Please be assured that we are raising this with the appropriate people and will looking for some answers.

Phil Andrews ● 5993d