CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a treasured library centre compiled a detailed report of what they claim are Brent Council’s ‘failings’ with regard to a public consultation, and sent it to each member of the authority.

The Keep Willesden Green Campaign has been battling the council for some months to get the authority to ‘pause, listen and reflect’ on plans to knock down the Willesden Green Library Centre and replace it with a new cultural hub, 92 new homes and associated parking.

They claim the public has not been adequately consulted on the proposals and are unhappy that a 20 year-old bookshop is being forced out of the premises.

The six-page ‘Broken Policies’ report was sent to every member of the council in a bid to get the authority to stop the process and relaunch the consultation in more detail.

The council has hit back at the document saying it ‘considers much of it to be highly inaccurate and misleading’.

But when The Observer asked the it to state which parts of the document are incorrect, it declined to do so.

The report from KWG contains the following claims:

- There has been no proper consultation.

- Plans and drawings are ‘misleading’

- The new library will be smaller than the present library.

- The council is ignoring the wishes of local people.

Campaigner Martin Redston said: “We are still asking the council to Pause, Listen and Reflect. The information in the document clearly shows that there are considerable grounds for complaint against the manner in which Brent Council have dealt with the issues related to consultation with the public.

“Once again we would state categorically that the scheme which includes a new library centre which is likely to be inferior to the current WGLC building dating back to 1983, demolition of a much loved heritage building dating back to 1894, and the considerable loss of amenity with no public car parking spaces included in the scheme is counterproductive at a time when local high streets need community and council support.”

A Brent Council spokesman said: “This report was presented and heard at the last Executive, Brent Council has reviewed it and considers much of it to be highly inaccurate and misleading.”

Final proposals for the new cultural hub have been completed by the council, and have been submitted to the planning department for consideration.

A second public exhibition on the plans will take place on Tuesday, May 22 at the library centre foyer from 2pm to 7pm.

To find out more visit www.willesdengreencc.co.uk

For more information about the campaign group go to http://keepwillesdengreen.blogspot.co.uk/