Two libraries in Merton closed last Saturday, in spite of vigorous and
sustained protest from local residents. Morden Park and Wimbledon Park
libraries are now sad, closed premises, instead of being full of life,
interest and activity, as any self-respecting library should be.
As you will remember, the matter was drawn to the attention of Wimbledon
Park residents by a meeting held in May last year, chaired by Roger Casale
and attended by residents from both areas. This started the ball rolling.
The Friends of Wimbledon Park Library was formed; Councillors were lobbied;
Council meetings attended (vociferously!); letters were written; the Department of Culture, Media and Sport contacted repeatedly. The press were extremely
supportive and we were on cable television several times.
We then got together again with Morden Park library supporters to form
Merton Library Forum, really to see if there was any way forward to work
with the Council to prevent closures. Roger Casale offered the services of
the Wimbledon Civic Forum for mediation, but this offer was refused by the Council.
Unfortunately, it appeared that Merton Council had already made up its
mind, so our protests and offers of help were simply ignored. The Council
indulged in a farcical excuse for consultation in September, which actually
failed to mention library closures! Predictably, the full Council meeting
in November then rubber-stamped these library closures.
Merton Library Forum still continued with its efforts to present our case
to anyone who would listen, and a lengthy submission was prepared for the
Parliamentary Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport, which met three times in February/March.
Merton Library Forum continues to exist and it is still worthwhile
continuing the protest. We are asking for postcards to be signed
protesting about the closures to Baroness Blackstone (Life-Long Learning)
and Alan Howarth, Minister for Libraries. The postcards are now lodged in
the Chemist's shop in Arthur Road, D.H. Parry, and anyone who cares to sign should do so. They will be collected and sent to Parliament.
So our much-loved library has closed. We had a farewell party outside the
library on Saturday morning, 1st April, and were able to say thank you to
the staff for their friendly and infinitely helpful approach to our library
needs over 50 years of existence. But the tide will turn eventually and
that is why we are continuing with our efforts.