LIBRARY users, families and interested neighbours have taken a look at the next stage of plans for a major redevelopment in Willesden.

Developer Galliford Try and Brent Council held a consultation event at Willesden Green Library Lab on Wednesday last week for plans that include the historic library building.

The original planning application for Willesden Green Cultural Centre was withdrawn in early July and residents had a chance to tell the partners what they want to see in a new cultural centre.

Galliford Try was keen to make clear that the plans on display were not set in stone and would respond to feedback.

Jonathan and Eugenia North have been visiting the library, bookshop and museum for years.

Mr North said: “This is a good step forward and there has been a lot of negativity as people don’t see them as being open about the plans. This shows they are listening.”

The couple said the bookshop was a vital part of the area and they would like to see quiet working spaces and activities for children within any new plans.

Joanna Steele, of Architecture 00, which helped organise the event, said: “People feel they are really getting across what they want and we are doing more long-term consultation with target groups in September. We are collecting everything that has been said and this feedback will be used in new designs.”

At last week’s meeting, the issue of parking was raised as the current car park is being redeveloped for flats.

A council spokesman said: “While parking is not an essential requirement for the success of this scheme, we believe that an existing planning condition on the nearby Sainsbury’s car park makes short-term parking possible for users of the library. We are aware Sainsbury’s may have queried this long-standing condition and we are therefore investigating further.”

Sainsbury’s has denied this in a response to Martin Francis on the Keep Willesden Green blog, but the Observer was awaiting further clarification as we went to press.