Friern Barnet library sit-in ends

Thursday, 05 April 2012

Protestors leave the building. Maureen Ivens gives a speech.

Protestors leave the building. Maureen Ivens gives a speech.

By Daniel O'Brien and Kim Inam

A SIT-IN at the now closed Friern Barnet Library came to an end shortly before 6pm today.

Demonstrators began their protest over Barnet Council’s cabinet decision to close the library in Friern Barnet Road before 1pm. Some 16 members of the public, including two children, were involved in the protest.

After the sit-in began Barnet Council decided not to reopen the library after lunch, which meant the library closed earlier than the expected 4pm closure.

Members of the Save Friern Barnet Library campaign gathered outside in a planned protest. During the afternoon protestors put up banners inside and outside the library, which were met by hooting horns outside the library. Several councillors who supported the campaign also gathered outside, including Kate Salinger who spoke out at the business overview and scrutiny committee meeting against her Conservative party colleagues' which granted the much-loved library a four day reprieve.

A-level students Sophie Mayer and Jess de Duve arrived at the library in the afternoon to study and were surprised to find the library had been closed.

Friern Barnet Library has been closed as part of a merger with North Finchley Library, which has not been given a closure, in a new landmark arts library at the artsdepot in Tally Ho Corner.

The protestors left the library to cheers of support from the crowd outside. One occupier Maureen Ivens told The Press: "The whole idea today was not to keep the library open long term because that fight is continuing.

"One of the main aims today was to publicise the treatment of locals by the council.

"We could have stayed indefinitely but we felt that this was not the way to overturn the decision. We have been advised by our lawyers to follow the situation as it develops.

"Barnet Council has not seen the last of us. The fight continues."

Before the decision at Hendon Town Hall last night Robert Rams, cabinet member for customer access, told The Press: “We need to market it as soon as possible so we can get the funds to open it at the artsdepot. Financially we can’t keep it open as we will be jeopardising the other improvements we want to make.”

Mr Rams also announced he had agreed with Barnet College to use one of its rooms at the arts centre as a temporary library to be set up by April 25.

Earlier a Barnet Council spokesman said: “Some 15 or so protesters occupied the library before it closed as usual, for lunch. Given we now have several people refusing to leave the building, we have decided to close the library for the day.”

Email: daniel.obrien@nlhnews.co.uk

All content © of North London Press unless stated otherwise.

3 comments on this news item

Posted by : Keith, 148 | Saturday 07/Apr/2012 | Report this comment

CULTURE v THE PHILISTINES RIGHT v WRONG WISDOM v GREED PRAY FOR THE PHILISTINES OF BARNET COUNCIL Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do

Posted by : ron, Finchely | Saturday 07/Apr/2012 | Report this comment

Well, Vicki, Rams’ reasoning is idiotic as usual. what saving are to be made if the money ’saved’ in FBL is needed for a ’new’ library? and to think that we put such incompetence to run our budget....

Posted by : Vicki, United | Thursday 05/Apr/2012 | Report this comment

’Robert Rams, cabinet member for customer access, told The Press: ’We need to market it as soon as possible so we can get the funds to open it at the artsdepot. Financially we can’t keep it open as we will be jeopardising the other improvements we want to make.’’ This is the first I’ve heard of this: sell Friern Barnet to get the money to open its replacement. Had anyone else heard this?