The date and time of Ealing Central library being squeezed to death should be recorded as 12th July 2016 @7pm according to Conservative Opposition Councillors. This follows the decision by the Labour Administration voluntarily to give up its current site in exchange for a significantly smaller site.
The new site, above Primark, would be 727sqm instead of the current 1106sqm – a reduction of more than a third.
In the new space, the book stock reduces from 124,000 to just 35,000; study space reduces from 145 to 45 and the Local History service is moved from the main library to West Ealing. Much of the archives is to be put into 'deep storage.’
Councillor Anthony Young, Opposition Deputy Leader said:
“In commercial terms, the value of the current lease for the Library is significantly below the value for the new site that the Council plans to accept. Only the Labour Administration which has no regard for the concept of public service and value for money would consider this exchange to be ‘best consideration.’
The slashing of the book stock, 124,000 to 35,000 (a 72% reduction), and the reduction in study space from 145 to 45 (a 72% reduction) is enough to demonstrate that Labour intends to kill off the library by stealth, after failing miserably in the face of public opposition to do so a few years ago.
It is only a matter of time before the other Libraries go as well.”