Victory for campaign to save Notting Hill library

AN eleventh-hour decision by Kensington and Chelsea council not to close a library in Notting Hill has been hailed as a possible turning point in the tide of closures in the capital.

The council decided to suspend a decision to close the library for two years following a long-running Evening Standard campaign backed by many of the area's high-profile residents, including former minister Peter Mandelson.

The Tory-controlled council had said it would close the library as part of 1.2 million savings drive. But its leader, Merrick Cockell, announced a U-turn on Friday after 400 people, including local schoolchildren, mounted a protest outside the library and threatened to disrupt the traffic in Notting Hill.

Campaigner Tim Burke, an art collector from the area, said: "Mr Man-delson's letter undoubtedly helped but I think the clincher was the Valentine's cards sent by the children to councillors pleading for them to change their mind."

"It was a eleventh-hour decision and it's a great day for libraries across London too. Hopefully, threatened libraries in other boroughs won't be hacked off now."

The campaign was backed by scores of local celebrities, including the actress Amelia Fox, biographer Anto-nia Fraser, former Arts Council Chairman Peter Palumbo, and Paul Simonon of The Clash.

The former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson, who lives near the library, wrote a personal letter to councillors expressing his distress about its possible closure Local writers Harold Pinter, Sebastian Faulks and Prudence Carmichael also lent their support and signed a petition. Mrs Carmichael said: "It's great news. Our main concern now is to get the library alive and get people using the facilities."

Notting Hill Gate library is the borough's smallest and least- used fulltime branch, the council maintains.

Christopher Buckmaster, chairman of the education and libraries committee, said the decision showed that Kensington council does listen to its residents.

The council will now introduce a two-year period of consultation before deciding on the library's long-term

future. He said: "We do listen. There is a very clear wish to keep the library open. We will make a major effort to ensure the library provides the local community with what it wants."

The capital's library service has recently been threatened with decimation, as many boroughs have announced cost-cutting closures and reductions in opening hours.

The Culture Secretary Chris Smith last week announced the new Public Library Standards initiative, which will come into force in April.

Local authorities have been given three years to ensure that people who live in cities are within one mile of a library, and 85 per cent of country dwellers within two miles.

A spokesman for Mr Smith said: "The recent publication of our Library Standards set out the levels of service we expect local authorities to provide for library users.

"However, decisions on actual closures are ultimately a matter for the local authority concerned. We welcome the decision to keep Notting Hill library open, as it will continue to provide a valuable education resource for locals"

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