I am writing to reassure your readers in response to the letter regarding the proposed West Barnes Library development published on January 6. As the Guardian’s own article in December reported, the council has received almost unanimous support for developing the site to build an improved and more affordable library with increased community facilities. The public were particularly keen on the inclusion of a community hall and public toilets.
For a development like this to happen we would need to go into partnership with a housing developer, who would in effect pay for the library by building flats on top, including affordable units. As West Barnes councillors Brian and Gilli Lewis-Lavender said on your letters page before Christmas, Merton desperately needs new residential accommodation. The building is likely to be no higher than the school building next door and does not back onto any residential properties.
It is important to point out that we are still in the early stages of the development, which has been widely publicised. And there will be further stages of consultation around the design of the building and a thorough analysis of transport implications. As it stands, though, 85 per cent of the over 400 local residents who responded to the first consultation were in favour of the idea. I owe it to them to carry on and deliver this great facility for West Barnes.
Councillor Nick Draper
Merton Council’s cabinet member for community and culture
- Send your letters to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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