There's an online survey on the Council's website where you can write your concerns

http://bit.ly/2kHrskB

Model of the proposed development

http://bit.ly/2kS5YSW

Thank you for the enlightening report... it appears the council is keen to up it's revenue from the business suite/room hire of the library

So we get a library 697 sq m vs the old 605 sq m (with 35 sqm given to the bookshop on the ground floor)
However the entire 3rd floor is the business suite = not a library!

Does anyone have a link to the actual plans?

All the arguments they give regarding the use and effective management of the existing library - in point 13 - could be dealt with by rebuilding/refitting the old library - which if someone is turning the space into 2 retail units and 8 flats is going to happen anyway

Please see attached the Council report outlining their proposals:

For example.....

The redevelopment of Chatham Hall requires the temporary closure of the building whilst the library and new community centre are constructed. This will be an inconvenience to the users of the hall, which include:
(a) Alphabeth Nursery
(b) Fancy Footwork Studio Ltd
(c) HathaYoga
(d) Mei Chuan Academy
(e) RugbyTotsSWLondonLtd
26. Enable, the Council‟s leisure and culture services provider, that manages Chatham Hall on behalf of the Council, advise that it is unlikely that users can be temporarily relocated.

I also suspect that when Wandsworth council say the nursery space will be better it is misleading...
The nursery will lose the playground area and they are opposed to the plan, so how can the nursery space be better??!!

Carol2R, the old library is 'fit for purpose' :roll: It could easily have a re-fit. It's because the Council want the rents from that piece of land. A coffee machine, a new nappy changing table and new chairs and better computers isn't that hard to fit?

Three storeys does not sound high; but when you look around Chatham Hall, all the other houses are two storeys in Cobham Close, so it would tower above them and take all the light from the houses on Bramfield Road as they don't have gardens, the back wall of the flats would be their wall, thus taking away all the light into about 30 houses. The architect failed to acknowledge on his proposal plans that Chatham Hall is on a hill, so the flats are actually too tall and ARE overbearing.

Not only that, Alphabet Nursery do not want to move and do not want to lose their playground. They have 60 plus children and are ofsted rated OUTSTANDING. They aren't a pack-away nursery and can't just be put into a smaller hall, they are an established nursery who have been there for some 27 years and parents choose the nursery because of it's space and playground. It is appalling how the Council have treated the users of the hall, and not even asked their opinion yet or included them in any of the meetings thus far. Other people use Chatham Hall, rugby tots, ballet, yoga.

The proposed plans have not been thought out properly by the Council. We do not need more housing in this dense area. We need to keep all our schools and preserve open spaces like playgrounds.

Not only that but the new library is being glossed up by the Council, and the gritty details are that the second floor will be a "business suite" as a money spinner and even the first floor has a conference room. So the library is likely to be 30% smaller in reality. So in the Wandsworth Council blurb, the word 'bigger' library is entirely misleading........ :?

The problem with so much of the accommodation being built is that it is offering no stability. The money is being made from short term lets, rather than providing homes for those who need them. It is for that reason that there should be more council accommodation which is not sold off for people to make profit from.

You should all be very grateful that Wandsworth are actually proposing to build a new library to replace the one they are keen to close.

Unlike their proposals for the York Gardens library a few years ago, where they simply wanted to close the library.
Just so we are clear they wanted to close a library in one of the most deprived areas of the borough.
They based this argument on an absurd metric - net cost per book lent - which unsurprisingly enough turned out to be highest at the York Gardens library.
A campaign was launched to fight this, pointing out for example how many children used the library as a safe space to do homework, etc...
F

You should all be very grateful that Wandsworth are actually proposing to build a new library to replace the one they are keen to close.

Unlike their proposals for the York Gardens library a few years ago, where they simply wanted to close the library.
Just so we are clear they wanted to close a library in one of the most deprived areas of the borough.
They based this argument on an absurd metric - net cost per book lent - which unsurprisingly enough turned out to be highest at the York Gardens library.
A campaign was launched to fight this, pointing out for example how many children used the library as a safe space to do homework, etc...

Here is some further information about what is being proposed. It is perhaps worth stressing that this is a very early stage consultation. There are no concrete plans and no planning application. What is important now is listening to the views of local people and hearing what they have to say about the possibility of a new replacement library and community hall being provided in Northcote Road, along with new homes and some retail units.

Below is the official council announcement about what is being considered.

[b]Plans unveiled for a bigger and better Northcote Library [/b]

Residents living in and around Northcote Road in Battersea are being asked for their views on plans to build a bigger and better library and replacement community hall in their neighbourhood.

The council is currently holding an informal, preliminary stage consultation on proposals that could eventually see the existing Northcote Library replaced with a larger, better facility offering a wider range of library and community services just a stone’s throw away.

The plans would see a modern three storey library incorporating an exciting children’s library complete with buggy parking space, enlarged study accommodation, self serve kiosks for book loans, upgraded computer and digital learning areas and a coffee and drinks outlet next to the section containing newspapers, magazine and periodicals.

This new library would be built almost directly opposite the existing one on land currently occupied by council-owned garages at Staplehurst Court and Chatham Hall.

The development would also include community space to replace that currently offered at Chatham Hall and introduce a new business suite on its second floor offering small local businesses state-of-the-art communications technologies, adaptable work spaces and meeting rooms for hire.

If the plans were to proceed the current library would remain fully open to the public until the new one is ready to open its doors.

The council’s community services spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “We are holding these informal and very early stage discussions with local people to gauge the level of support for these plans.

“We have arranged some drop-in sessions at Northcote Library in the coming days and weeks so that residents can find out more about these proposals and then tell us what they think.

“Our intention is to provide a fantastic brand new modern library with a much greater range of services than is possible in the existing library building.

“The current library was built in 1969 and by today’s standards, is terribly inefficient in its use of space and its layout. At a time when demand for library services is growing, we want to improve and expand the facilities to better meet the meet the needs of local people.”

The cost of building the new library would be met by also constructing and selling 17 residential units spread across both sites. This would mean that local council tax payers would not have to pay a penny towards their new library.

Nine flats would be built as part of the new library development while another eight, plus retail space for two shops, would be provided on the existing library site.

Cllr Cook added: “This is a sensible and cost effective use of the council’s property portfolio. It means we can provide much needed new homes for Londoners plus a modern new library without having to raise council tax.

“At a time when many councils in London and elsewhere are closing down libraries and curtailing library services to save money we are looking to expand and improve our provision to give our residents a bigger and better Northcote library that’s fit for the 21st century.”

The current library building’s flaws include restricted access to its first floor children’s library, no room to safely and securely store buggies, no space to provide computer access on the ground floor, obsolete and inflexible shelving which does not make the best use of the available space, the building is poorly ventilated and lacking natural light and inadequate toilet and baby changing facilities.

The new residential accommodation will be car free as the area already boasts good transport links. This means people who move into these properties will not be eligible to buy parking permits so as not to add pressure on existing parking provision.

Information leaflets outlining the proposals are to be distributed throughout the area and there will be information boards installed at Northcote Library until Sunday, March 5

Drop-in sessions are also being held at the library giving local residents the chance to ask questions face-to-face. These sessions will be held on the following date and times

• Thursday, February 9 between 5pm and 8pm
• Saturday, February 11 from 10am to 2pm
• Wednesday, February 22, 5pm to 8pm
• Saturday, February 25 between 10am and 2pm.

Residents who cannot attend these drop-in sessions can call (020) 7566 6463 to find out more or email info@northcotelibrary.co.uk. Information is also available at http://www.northcotelibrary.co.uk.

• The popularity of Wandsworth’s library service – and the need to keep pace with the needs of local residents - was highlighted by recent figures which showed that last year was another record year for local libraries with the largest number of book issues in the capital.

The figures from public service accountancy body CIPFA show that in 2015/2016, Wandsworth residents were London’s most dedicated library users, borrowing more than 1.4m books.

Service improvements and branch upgrades have been key to this success.

Earlsfield Library has been completely redecorated, Battersea Library has been upgraded and the children’s library at Tooting has been completely refurbished. Work has now started on a brand new Wandsworth Town library while plans are being drawn up to replace another two branches at York Gardens and Roehampton with new state-of-the-art buildings offering a wider range of services.

There has also been investment in new e-resources and software, new systems to help people get the latest books as quickly and easily as possible. Link-ups with other organisations including Citizens Advice Wandsworth have enabled people to access other public services in their local branch.

[quote="hellokittyerw"]papinian - I think you are off topic here, this post is about northcote library and chatham hall.[/quote]

No, I'm not off topic, I'm answering the point that you made in YOUR earlier post re the services provided by the council being already insufficient.

papinian - I think you are off topic here, this post is about northcote library and chatham hall.

I apologise for my lack of economical education ( :lol: ) and that of other posters - must be hard for you ;)

I agree about the supply and demand but then this is where I have different views.
I am French and I vote centre to the left (here I would be more lib dem) and I believe in a welfare state for those who have fallen off the wagon, are incapacitated either by illness or accident, those who are working 3 jobs (the uber driver I talked to last week), those who are working on 0 hours contract or long shifts for minimum wages and yes for those too whose aspirations and ambitions have never been developed or have been crunched because of one thing or another.

So yes whilst I understand your views, I wouldn't object if our council taxes were raised to service the community.

Also I would like to know which school you are talking about (I know of a few who are not at capacity). I am sure that it has many reasons and receive a lot of support from the LA but I also think that the school unfortunately is not located in one of the affluent pocket of WW.

Anyway, back to the OP as this is what the thread is about. All I wanted to say is that there are pressure on the existing services and building housing on overstretched capacities is not going to help.

supergirl: Your post is a reflection of the very poor level of economic education that so many posters here exhibit.

The price of housing is, fundamentally, determined by supply and demand. Of course there are all sorts of other factors but ultimately, in the long run, it is supply and demand.

More housing supply should, in general, result in a lower price of housing than would be the case in the absence of such supply.

Low paid people do not have some special right to affordable housing. Well paid people are also entitled to housing. And if the amount of housing stock doesn't go up then low paid people are also going to lose out because the well paid people will still be accessing the existing housing stock ahead of the low paid.

We've had 20 years of the government faffing about with the housing market, having special rules for "key workers", having massive percentages of new housing being required to be "affordable" (i.e. subsidised by those who buy the remaining housing at full whack), and, like most government intervention, all it has done is push up the price of housing.

There are lots of schools in Wandsworth with empty places. There is one primary school with half its places empty. Every new apartment or house is more council tax. In fact, those living in those new apartments and houses will be paying a lot more in council tax than those living in council housing do.

There is a very large percentage of our community that is on the welfare wagon, living lives of continual subsidisation by the hard-working taxpayer. If that part of the community were put to work then there would be a lot more money for services.

I'm tired of seeing hard-working people described as selfish for wanting to keep more of the money that they earn, but never seeing described as selfish those who don't work hard enough to be net contributors to the tax/spending.

Yes London needs more housing but AFFORDABLE housing. Anyone think that those potentially new flats will be affordable to people working in the services economy? Or for people earning minimum wages and / or on benefits/tax credits? And all those in between?
I shouldnt think so.

Also what is the point of building more housings if they dont improve and upgrade the:
Water pressure
School places: primary and secondary
Roads
Parks and playground facilities
NHS
Rubbish collections
And many more.

London is a VERY dense city. Since it is domehow accepted to commute in cattle trains, do they expect us to live in overstretched capacities as well?

If you dont want to then the only way is to tell the council and your MP by NOT voting for them next time.

But everybody complains on overstretch services yet when it comes to council the same wpuld refuse to pay. I believe you get what you pay gor.

Wandsworth Council's goal is to make quick few bucks at the expense of the quality of life: look at the Homebase redevelopment proposal. Same rushed plans to get the profits in quickly.

Shame.

Here is the previous thread discussing the proposals
http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/viewtopic.php?p=198371#p198371

Link to the proposals
http://www.northcotelibrary.co.uk/

info from the council
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/article/13777/plans_unveiled_for_a_bigger_and_better_northcote_library

The new flats will be "car free" so the parking argument doesn't work
A new community space to replace Chatham Hall is included in the plans