THE CLOSURE threat to Chiswick Library increased this week, when council officers admitted that the withdrawal of developers from a current plan to save the library, has left them with no alternatives.

The Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force next year, means drastic changes need to be made at the library to provide better access, but despite nearly three years of deliberation, efforts to develop the site are back to square one.

Property developer Workspace, which owns the Barley Mow centre next door to the library, was offering to pay for the construction of a new facility on the Dukes Avenue site in return for being allowed to develop office space above, but the plans had been widely objected to for relocating the library in the basement of the building, and putting a caf above.

Following the council's public consultation, Workspace were approached about an alternative scheme which would have seen the library on the ground floor, and the possibility of opening up the site to an architectural competition, but they rejected the idea and talks have now broken down.

Local designer Brian Boothby also spoke at the meeting of his despair at the collapse in negotiations: I'm appalled there were so many objections to the plans.'' He described the offer by Workspace as a gift'' that should have been taken.

At the Chiswick Area committee meeting on Wednesday (April 30th) council officers glumly revealed there are no alternative plans available.

Councillor Paul Lynch, chair of the meeting, spoke of his frustration: We feel that time is passing and that nothing seems to be happening.''

He had tried to contact Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell on the issue and had spoken to senior civil servants who had told him the new legislation placed the library under serious threat.

We feel, in the event of us not getting partnership with Workspace, that we need a plan to enable us to comply with legislation. When the dreaded day comes, is someone going to bolt the doors and say no more lending'?''

Director of Lifelong Learning, Leisure and Cultural Services, Nick Pratt said that officers were in continual contact with Workspace, and he expressed hopes that they were willing to pursue the project. The current position is there's no alternative,'' he added.

No council funds have yet been made available for development of the Library. It's estimated it would cost £180,000 to bring the building in line with the new legislation, which is almost all of the amount set aside for building development across the whole of the borough this year.

A meeting was now being set up for the beginning of June with Workspace to try and resurrect the scheme.

Shirley Hadi, Chair of the Friends of Chiswick Library, said they could only wait and see what results come from the June meeting: The main objection we had was for the library being in the basement. Whether they will be discussing this at the June meeting, I don't know. It's just one of those things where negotiations go on between a private company and the council and the arguments are not made public.''

No-one from the property developers was available for comment.

May 1, 2003 16:00