Drug Centre scrapped? Library to be Sold

The Waltham Forest Guardian reports that the drug centre described by Council Leader Chris Robbins as a “wonderful addition” to the local community has been scrapped.

Faced with continued protests from ungrateful locals who perversely thought having a library was wonderful, Cllr Robbins announced the building will not now be a treatment centre.

Any residents ready to rejoice at the prospect of a reopened Library or community space will be shocked to discover Robbins declaring that if locals wont give in to him, he’ll take his ball away.

The Labour council leader has demanded the building be sold off within weeks:
“I’ve asked the chief executive to dispose of the property as quickly as possible.”

So just as we reach the bottom of a housing slump, the Labour members of council have decided without any consultation to flog the building off losing not only 10′s of thousands in value but also any chance of a much needed community building. It’s a disgusting two fingers up to the whole area, with the former Library no doubt destined to become shoddily constructed flats similar to those a few feet up Coppermill Lane.

Cllr Robbins said a new building would now have to be found for the drug centre: “I want the opposition parties not to play politics with this one so that we can get down to some decision.

“It’s going to be very, very difficult and I don’t know where there’s another property. If we have to buy it, it will cost us money we don’t have.”

Speaking to The Guardian, Janet Wright, of the St James Street Library campaign, said: “It is very sad that the new leader of the council, instead of coming up with something useful has shown a complete lack of vision , and a poverty of aspiration for the people of this area“.

Last weekend St James Street Library was the scene of what local blogger Archipelago of Truth called a bit of “good old-fashioned knockabout political street comedy“.

St James Street Library campaigners were joined by local Lib Dem’s opposed to the drug centre plan as well as Labour Councillor Liaquat Ali, who by all accounts wasn’t entirely sure if he was for or against the plan. Having previously voiced his opposition, his position was important as his vote would give the 4 Lib Dem council members already opposed the majority.

I highly recommend reading the Archipelago of Truth’s full description of events:

“Residents watched at first with frustration and then with increasing hilarity as the hapless Mr Ali refused to answer the Paxman-like questioning, ‘Will you vote ‘Yes or No’? put to him over and over again by a succession of questioners. These included LibDem councillors James O’Rourke, Johar Khan and local legend, Bob Wheatley; LibDem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Farid Ahmed; Dr Peter Tan, from the library campaign, a large number of other local residents, (including myself), concerned traders from nearby businesses and even a council street cleaner who happened to be passing by and joined in the political charade. The question was put to him, in various forms, over thirty times. The repetitive repeating of “You know our position” and “I stand by my word” did not impress onlookers who watched as Mr Ali joked and smiled but nonetheless squirmed for dear life to ensure that he would do anything but take a position on the coming crucial vote”.

And so by Tuesday evening (30th June) faced with defeat the motion was removed from the already published agenda for a council meeting set for the 7th of July.

Agenda Item 5 (PDF) contains detailed notes on the case for the centre including planned PR campaigns and opening date, along with an amusing entry… “Feb 09 – Inform residents of councils decision to site drug centre in former Library”. Oddly the methods include a Press release, WFM and Radio, but not the real way residents found out, i.e. hidden away in a financial report where the council hoped they wouldn’t spot it until it was too late.

• 5. Cabinet Report St Jamess Library & DAT Final Version (Adobe Acrobat document – 47K)
• 5. Project Plan St James (Adobe Acrobat document – 33K)
• 5. Appendix 2 – EIA Open Access Final (Adobe Acrobat document – 46K)