Cllr Gail Engert has welcomed the first step of progress on the refurbishment of Muswell Hill Library but expresses deep concerns on the lack of detail in the proposal.

To applause from assembled residents at Haringey Council’s consultation’ meeting, Cllr Engert publicly challenged Cllr Lorna Reith Executive Member responsible for Community Engagement, on the lack of real detail for residents to consider and respond to.

Cllr Engert comments:

“What residents really want to know and understand is how the changes are going to affect the choice and availability of their library facilities, so they can have their say.

“The proposals on offer were so lacking in detail it is difficult to see how anyone could be expected to make an informed opinion.

“Sadly, this is the poor quality of consultation that we’ve become accustomed from the Labour administration.For them it seems like consultation is a perfunctory process that they undertake with no real consideration or skill rather than a fantastic and valuable opportunity to engage with the people we serve.”

Note:

Issues of particular concern to members of the public, which were not included at the display at the Library or on the consultation leaflets there:

The measurements in square metres of all the elements in the ground plans (the measurements were only given for the proposed restaurant). This means that it is not evident whether the plans involve a space gain for library use or not.

The fact that the plans involved the sale of two thirds of the car park.

What money was to be raised by the sale of the car park land, and what money would be raised from selling the lease on the ground floor of the library for a restaurant.

Not only was the sale of the car park for development not mentioned in the library consultation, but there is no indication of what a development might involve or look like. It did come out at the meeting that it was for 9 residential units.

Whether the plans involved any more space for books. Residents wanted the current and proposed linear shelf space for books.

The fact that nearby residents had not been told of the consultation, as obviously the building of the library extension and the residential development would severely impact upon them.