From Ickenham Residents.

the council has deferred taking the Uxbridge library move proposal to cabinet to allow for a period of public engagement. This consists of email feedback to: librarycontact@hillingdon.gov.uk i.e. we have a chance to register objections, or it will be assumed we have none. The more emails the council receives will make the residents position clearer. So can I ask you to share this with all those that are likely to take an interest in Uxbridge library?

The council project leader for the library has said he is not aware of any other mechanism such as a public consultation. So. to register an opinion, an email needs to be sent to the above address. This should include reasons, which the council can consider. I’m suggesting emails go to both the library contact and to your local ward councillor, because at the full council meeting voting on the library was split along party lines, with the  Conservatives for the proposed move and Labour against. Our councillors’ emails are available at https://modgov.hillingdon.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx?XXR=0&AC=WARD&WID=13412& search on ickenham and South Harefield ward The council officer leading this project and has made it clear that the information they have provided is all they have at the moment. So there is no proposed home for the history and archive section. This information from the contractors plan be found at: https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/uxbridge-library-relocation Our assumption is that emails need to be in by the end of December for them to be assessed, a report written and for this to be digested by the councillors, prior to cabinet.

Here are some useful links:

Announcement

Details

Plans (as downloadable pdf)

Hard copies should be in the central library.

You may be aware of proposals to  move the library to a smaller less convenient location in the Middlesex Suite in the Civic Centre.
Should you wish to add to the online petition here is the link:
https://www.change.org/p/save-our-central-library-in-uxbridge

The consultation link has already been posted on the best village Facebook  https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/library-strategy but it’s only when you get almost through the survey – which is very top level – that you find that Ickenham is going to be a tier 3 library with reduced opening*.

Please:

a) complete the survey and

b) query why Ickenham is a tier 3

c) please start to use our library more to improve its figures

d) as the Cabinet member for residents services is one of our Ward Cllrs, Eddie Lavery, please write and defend our library ELavery@hillingdon.gov.uk

You have until April 16th

Thanks.

Notes:

*Tier 1 / Flagship Libraries (3 libraries – Botwell Green, Ruislip Manor, Uxbridge): Mon 9-7, Tues 9-7, Weds 9-5, Thurs 9-7, Fri 9-5, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-1 (Ruislip Manor closed on Sun)

Tier 2 (5 libraries – Manor Farm, Northwood, Oak Farm, Yeading, Yiewsley): Mon 10-7, Tues 10-5, Weds 10-5, Thurs 10-7, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4

Tier 3** (5 libraries – Eastcote, Harlington, Ickenham, Northwood Hills, South Ruislip): Closed either Mon or Weds; open 3 weekdays 10-1 and 2-5pm; 1 weekday 10am-1pm and 2pm-7pm; Sat 10-4

Tier 4 (4 libraries – Charville, Harefield, Hayes End, West Drayton): Closed either Mon or Weds; open 4 weekdays 10am-1pm and 2-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm

**Tier 3 includes Harlington library, subject to consultation about its future/decommissioning of service. Also includes Northwood Hills library, proposed to open throughout lunchtime pending rebuild