I WOULD like to commend Councillor Higgins on his revamp of Ruislip Manor Library.

In theory it looks great, and is a nice looking place to pop in and borrow books and learn about local activities.

In fact, adding a coffee area has turned the place into a meeting place for young mums. Families who have children far too young to even read come there and use it as a creche - and noisy play area.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with community groups using the facilities, sitting around loudly chatting about nothing all day long. They, after all, now have somewhere to hang out that's free, warm and reasonably secure. It's like a burger bar without the burgers and expense.

However, it is at the expense of people trying to read, study and pass exams. They all have to wear earphones because of the number of kids running around screaming in there all day long.

Once a library was for browsing, study and learning, and the norm was silence so that people could do just that. Now it's just a social centre.

So, well done councillors: you have made everyone slightly less able to learn in a place of study.

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