Forum Topic

Central Library Refurbishment

Does anyone have any news about how the Central Library the refurbishment is going - specifically when the re-opening will take place?

James de Vivenot ● 6685d10 Comments

I sent this e-mail on June 11th to the library service and copied to Nigel Sumner, the councillor responsible. No reply - or even acknowledgement - yet of course..."I note that the central library is not just closed but the work shows little sign of being anywhere close to being finished.I note that you forecast a 20 week programme in November 2007, i.e. opening on April 1st. and that today's date is June 11.I note that having made these promises you have now just ignored them and failed to keep customers informed.I note that you pay yourselves at least what you consider to be the market rate in comparison with private industry.I note that the EC organisation includes lots of posts concerned with issues like marketing, customer care and similar positions. I doubt you even have the awareness or sense of responsibility to even be embarrassed about all of the above but I would like to record my anger and to ask for as good an explanation as you can provide to all the interlinked points above. Nicholas Cullum"

Nicholas Cullum ● 6684d

I was about to start a thread on this topic myself. I rang library services last week to ask - prompted by the typewritten note on the library door saying it would reopoen in "late spring" - and they couldn't tell me. They had no idea. Absolutely none. I complained about the note on the door, pointing out that late spring had been and gone, and about the fact that it directed to you the ealing.gov.uk website for more information. The website had an even older note saying work was about to start! The misleading note on the door has now been removed. Nothing has replaced it. If you look through the window there's no sign of any work going on - or any work having been done apart from piling the chairs on the tables. This council taxpayer thinks it's pretty damn shabby. (later) just looked at the website again and it says: "Ealing Central Library in the Ealing Broadway Centre will be reopening this summer, following a £2million refurbishment." believe it when i see it etc etc

David Dix ● 6682d

Maybe they've discovered they've no books?

Philippa Bond ● 6681d

They definitely still have books - if you ring, they find them for you very charmingly.

Sara Nathan ● 6681d

I'm surprised that Cllr.Nigel Sumner hasn't replied, as he's one of the more efficient and caring councillors with a very good track record of doing things for residents' and tax payers.Message to Mr Jason Stacey:..."Please Mr Stacey, may we have our library back.  After all, it is the flagship library of the borough and an important asset for Ealing residents. Please also keep us informed of progress. Thanks Mr Stacey."  ;-)

Gerry Tan ● 6681d

Since May I have been responsible for libraries, among other things, at least from the political point of view.  So it isn't Nigel's fault it is mine.  I have been solemly promised that the library will re-open on 29th July.  You may be aware of a couple of setbacks we have had with this project.  First off as soon as it was emptied we found structural problems which were unexpected and took some time to sort out with the owner of the Broadway Centre.  Secondly in April we had a small fire.  This meant that the smoke damaged interior had to be treated and redecorated.  You may have seen the stories in Ealing Times here:http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/search/display.var.1569283.0.library_suffers_setback.phpandhttp://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/search/display.var.2276171.0.library_reopening_delayed.phpIt is not as if this stuff has been secret or anything.

Phil Taylor ● 6681d

Phil,Thanks for the update - that's the first time I've heard a revised re-opening date mentioned. I hope that there are no more setbacks before then.

James de Vivenot ● 6681d

yes, thanks for the update. good news.ealingtoday.co.uk is evidently the best place to ask!

David Dix ● 6681d

In fact, it is as close to secret as it gets.To prove my point, please tell me what proportion of library users are Ealing Times readers?And is it appropriate that Ealing Council considers its communication responsibilities adequately discharged because the local paper chose to report something?

Nicholas Cullum ● 6681d

For those unaware the Central Library now features on the front page of the council website, no doubt encouraged by Phil!www.ealing.gov.uk

Robert Darke ● 6675d