Save Lambeth Libraries and the Carnegie Library occupation

[editor]

Here their responses:

 

[editor]

 

[gaijingirl]

I went down earlier and I was there for only about 20 minutes but in that time there was a stream of people coming to see if they needed anything - they were suggesting that donations go to the food bank for now but appreciate people still coming anyway, as they do sometimes need stuff. A guy turned up with a big box of crisps and chocolate fingers... They said that Lambeth were going to court this morning at 11am and that they reckoned, that rather than an injunction they'd seek another course of action (the name of which I'd forgotten) which could take a further 3 days to come to fruition.

There are fewer of them now as some had to go to work but they seemed really buoyant and pleased with the support they had received. They were keen that everyone carry forth the support and activism to other things going on this week such as the junior doctor's strike etc.

I'd say it's going to be an interesting summer.

 

[ohmyliver]

Thanks all for the updates. I think Editor has been doing great stuff with Brixtonblog to highlight the surrounding issues as well.

I did tweet asking what they wanted earlier, but they gave a list of things like an end to austerity, all not really deliverable by an excited 3 year old.

I would have posted earlier but have been busy doing tech support for my mum. I'm going to have to pop up to West London later but hope to drop in for 15-20 mins to show support either on the way back or there.

 

[gaijingirl]

I don't know if anyone else is listening to the debate on LBC about all this - it's great. HUGE support for the campaign from all quarters!

 

[gaijingirl]

ah it seems they have just had an injunction served (according to Twitter which I now appear to be able to read but not actively participate in @self)

 

[editor]

ah it seems they have just had an injunction served (according to Twitter which I now appear to be able to read but not actively participate in @self)

I've just been to visit them:

Lambeth issues possession order as Carnegie Library campaigners stand firm

 

[brixtonblade]

Does the fact that they say it's not a squat invalidate the notice of possession somehow?

 

[editor]

Some interesting legal stuff here:
http://www.landmarkchambers.co.uk/userfiles/documents/resources/DF-Protest.pdf

 

[Gramsci]

Does the fact that they say it's not a squat invalidate the notice of possession somehow?

No. But they need to put witness statement in and attend the court if they want to have there say in court.

Also if Council granted possession will not look good if they send in bailiffs.

As for costs. Lambeth are unlikely to try to get them off protesters as its bad publicity for them.

A lot depends on what kind of Judge they get.

 

[mihaly]

If the occupiers did not enter as trespassers- but simply stayed when they were meant to leave then the IPO should fail.
For an IPO - as opposed to an ordinary possession order - to succeed then they have to have entered as trespassers, not simply remained as trespassers (albeit trespassers who have paid for the building for years). The point of an IPO is that it is harsh- you get evicted first then you get to defend the case a month later- so the case has to be very clear cut. Also the applicant- in this case the council- needs to have an immediate right to possession of the whole of the property claimed and I am not sure thats the case here- aren't there other users subletting/there with permission other than the people who just want to borrow books ? So a judge with half a brain reading a sensible defence should throw this out.
That said, Advisory Service for Squatters have a story about an IPO being granted for the whole of Shoreditch goodsyard so it is clearly down to the judge on the day. I could not see anything about IPOs on the ASS website but they are the people to talk to if any of the occupiers need the advice. And they are at Advisory Service for Squatters | Legal & practical advice for squatters and other homeless people

 

[editor]

This is how important libraries are: this was the scene upstairs at the Brixton Tate Library twenty minutes ago.

 

[editor]

Added this comparison with the closed Minet library:

Opinion: Lambeth council – THIS is why libraries are important

 

[Gramsci]

Added this comparison with the closed Minet library:

Opinion: Lambeth council – THIS is why libraries are important

Good piece.

In one of the Council reports on the libraries even the Council said there was an equality issue with closing the Minet. The "Equalities Impact Assessment" which the Council do when they are altering services said that Minet is in an area classified as "deprived". Its right by the Loughborough Estate. So closing this library will mean, as you point out, that the nearest one is the Tate.

One of the library staff, at a meeting I attended, said the Tate is heavily used by students. There is a need for study space for many students with the free wifi.

His point being there is a high demand for library services.

 

[editor]

Good piece.

I wonder if any of the Myatts Fields students may be put off venturing into central Brixton because of the 'postcode wars' violence?

 

[Gramsci]

I wonder if any of the Myatts Fields students may be put off venturing into central Brixton because of the 'postcode wars' violence?

From what Ive heard up in LJ that could be possibly be an issue.

 

[quimcunx]

Any time I've gone to the Tate library to study it's been full or nearly full. I've often not gotten a space. They haven't room to absorb another library's worth of students.

 

[Tricky Skills]

Cllr Hopkins has now been handed the libraries portfolio.

 

[Gramsci]

Read this just now. Statement from the occupiers of the Carnegie re GLL

Carnegie Library occupation enters Day 6 as campaigners raise questions about the Lambeth/GLL gym connection

Its not just the gym. Its also the "Cultural Trust" that GLL and Lambeth are talking about setting up.

I am on the Brixton Rec Users Group committee. We were having regular quarterly meetings with Cllr Edbrooke and officers. After the last one where committee asked a lot of questions about the library/ gyms and the proposed Trust Cllr Edbrooke decided these meetings were no longer necessary. As one can see from the minutes it got rather heated discussion when BRUG kept on asking about the gym/libraries and the Trust.

Council is diverting money from Rec to set up the library/ gyms. Rec makes a profit ( they call it surplus) for the Council.

BRUG committee record of meeting here for more info. ( Council refused to minute meetings so we did). The relevant bit is last two pages. Took a lot of questioning to get Council officers to say money is being diverted from Rec to set up the library/ gyms. At first they said no then after further questioning said yes. No one was consulted on the library/gyms as it was not part of the original Culture2020 proposal.

Gyms are profitable in London but there are many providers competing with each other. The advantage that GLL has as a business is that it works with local authorities. The responsibility for the upkeep of buildings is the Councils. That is the infrastructure costs to GLL are minimal. This gives it a competitive advantage over private providers. The gym/libraries give it more Council assets under its control. Its business expansion scheme for them. At the meeting the Council did say GLL are waiving some of the management fee they get from the Council to get the library buildings.

The GLL/ Better staff and management at the Rec are good and are not to be blamed for GLLs library/ gyms. Major decisions are taken at a higher level. IMO GLL is operating more like a private business rather than a social enterprise.

The BRUG newsletter here

Now BRUG has no longer quarterly meetings its no longer possible to question further on this issue. One could be forgiven for thinking thats why Cllr Edbrooke decided to end them.

 

[editor]

Big march on Saturday:

Library campaigners to march from occupied Carnegie Library to Brixton, Sat 9th April

 

[ViolentPanda]

Good piece.

In one of the Council reports on the libraries even the Council said there was an equality issue with closing the Minet. The "Equalities Impact Assessment" which the Council do when they are altering services said that Minet is in an area classified as "deprived". Its right by the Loughborough Estate. So closing this library will mean, as you point out, that the nearest one is the Tate.

One of the library staff, at a meeting I attended, said the Tate is heavily used by students. There is a need for study space for many students with the free wifi.

His point being there is a high demand for library services.

Ever read right the way through an EIA? Essentially they're meaningless for the locals. They're merely an exercise in managerialism for the local authority. Before the cabinet meeting I re-read the one for the Cressingham "regeneration". No commitments, no policy, no budgets, just "this might happen, but it can't be helped".
They miss the point of actually predicting impacts and preventing or ameliorating them although that isn't really surprising when many appear to be written from behind a desk, with very little data being consulted.

 

[Orang Utan]

I am reading John Agard's wonderful Book, a children's history of the book, and found this quotation from Andrew Carnegie who founded this and many other libraries:
"It was from my own early experience that I decided there was no use to which money could be applied to boys and girls who have good within them and ability and ambition to develop it, as the founding of a public library".

 

[Plumdaff]

Ever read right the way through an EIA? Essentially they're meaningless for the locals. They're merely an exercise in managerialism for the local authority. Before the cabinet meeting I re-read the one for the Cressingham "regeneration". No commitments, no policy, no budgets, just "this might happen, but it can't be helped".
They miss the point of actually predicting impacts and preventing or ameliorating them although that isn't really surprising when many appear to be written from behind a desk, with very little data being consulted.

Here in Cardiff I read a recent EIA about the demolition of the Victoria Park Pool (now gone, criminally) that listed lots of people who would need to be consulted. None of it actually happened. They're completely useless.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Here in Cardiff I read a recent EIA about the demolition of the Victoria Park Pool (now gone, criminally) that listed lots of people who would need to be consulted. None of it actually happened. They're completely useless.

Quite. Box-ticking exercises so that the bureaucrats can show that they've considered various factors.

The one I mentioned talked about the effects of demolishing our homes, on our larger-than-average vulnerable population (more senior citizens and disabled people than most other estates in Lambeth), but hadn't bothered to analyse beyond that, even though it's supposed to. I mentioned this at a council "Cabinet" meeting, and the councillors didn't appear to have a fucking clue regarding the statutory requirements, let alone that tailored solutions might be necessary. These suckers, and the council officers, have been trumpeting that new units built to replace our homes, will be Part M -compliant - minimally disability-compliant - when that's been a legal requirement for 3 decades!

 

[Vintage Auntie]

Can you share this amongst friends please everyone..any musicians or singers please feel free to pop down and entertain the people inside and out..continued support from everyone is what's needed as they go into day 7 tomorrow and don't forget the march on Saturday leaving from Carnegie at 12 noon #defendtheten

 

[Jangleballix]

Can you share this amongst friends please everyone..any musicians or singers please feel free to pop down and entertain the people inside and out..continued support from everyone is what's needed as they go into day 7 tomorrow and don't forget the march on Saturday leaving from Carnegie at 12 noon #defendtheten

Liked this afternoon's saxophonist.

 

[Vintage Auntie]

Please let everyone know that the march starts at 12 noon tomorrow from the Carnegie Library Herne Hill Road..Please come and show support for the libraries and their staff.and all the people who use them every day.

 

[Orang Utan]

Please let everyone know that the march starts at 12 noon tomorrow from the Carnegie Library Herne Hill Road..Please come and show support for the libraries and their staff.and all the people who use them every day.

i'm going. anyone else?

 

[Lizzy Mac]

One Lambeth security guard and one local bobby on duty just now. Both were glued to their phones. Great use of my council tax.

 

[Vintage Auntie]

They have 3 security guards inside most of the time..but they have been fed well...the people inside have seen to that.