A very Merry Christmas to all our members

The Great British Library Betrayal

The great British library betrayal: Closures have brought national network to brink of ‘absolute disaster’, reveals official inquiry

Library services are on the brink of disaster and can only be saved if they become more like coffee shops with wi-fi, sofas and hot drinks, a report will recommend on Thursday.

A combination of funding cuts and declining attendance threatens the viability of the library network unless urgent action is taken, according to the Independent Library Report for England, which was commissioned by the Government.

“We’re at a critical moment for the libraries and if we’re not careful we could lose so many,” William Sieghart, who wrote the report, told The Independent. “I and a lot of people think it would be an absolute disaster.”


His report – which has been hailed as the last chance to halt a decline in which 324 libraries have closed since 2011 – recommends a complete “reinvigoration of the library network” for the 21st century, with every library in the country fitted with wi-fi to attract people who would otherwise spend time in cafés. A drive to make libraries truly digital could also lead to the creation of single national library card and catalogue, allowing readers to withdraw books across the country.

The complete article on the report can be viewed on the Independent website at:-
http://www.independent.co.uk/the-great-british-library-betrayal

Bromley  Council are consulting about options for the future of the Bromley Library Service which includes:

the development of community managed libraries
market testing the core library service
improving current library buildings

Surveys can be completed online or in your local library.

William Sieghart (born 1960) is a British philanthropist, entrepreneur, publisher and the founder of the Forward Prizes for Poetry. To find out more about him on Wikipedia click on :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sieghart

You could become a Dementia Friend

Over 4000 people in Bromley live with dementia and improving the care and experience of those with the condition is a key priority for our Council.

We are supporting a national campaign running from 1- 21 December by the Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England to encourage people to become Dementia Friends and find out how it affects people and the little things we can all do to help those living with the disease.  

Said Bromley Councillor Fortune, Chairman of the Health and Well-being Board:

“We are delighted to support this national campaign. As a Council we fund and work closely with those in the field and improving the care and experience of those living with dementia is a key priority. Dementia Friends is about learning a little bit more about the condition and turning that understanding  into action.”

If you are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend go to the Dementia Friends website, www.dementiafriends.org.uk.  You can watch a short video and register for a free pack of information.

PROPOSED RE-DEVELOPMENT OF 87-91 OAK TREE GARDENS

The following planning application has been made to Bromley Council to re-develop the site occupied by Nos 87, 89, 91 and 93 Oak Tree Gardens at the corner with Portland Road:

Redevelopment of land at rear of Nos. 87-93 Oak Tree Gardens to include demolition of No. 91 and retention of No. 89 with minor alterations to roof and Erection of eight 2 1/2 storey, 4 bedroom houses comprising of two terraces of 3 houses, one pair of semi-detached houses and one detached single garage; associated access, parking, landscaping, cycle storage, refuse and recycling provision.

LERA is opposing the application on the following grounds:

·       The additional pressures on the drainage and sewerage systems which are already struggling to cope with the existing houses on the Estate, and the increased risks of flooding; and

·       The increased traffic movements on an already busy and potentially dangerous corner.

You can view the planning application documents on the Council’s website – www.bromley.gov.uk. 

If you wish to object to the planning application, you must do this by TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER 2014.  You may register your objection in the Comments section on the website or by writing to Alison Prentice, Planning Department, London Borough of Bromley Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH.  The planning application reference is: 14/04443/FULL1.

If you would like to discuss this with a LERA representative, please contact:

Margaret Hearn  or Michelle Pike. Contact numbers are in the LERA Christmas Newsletter. 

Planning application to redevelop the land at the rear of 87 -93 Oak Tree Gardens

A Planning application has been submitted for the land at the rear of 87-93 Oak Tree Gardens.
The summary for the application reads as follows:-

14/04443/FULL1 | 
Redevelopment of land at rear of Nos. 87-93 Oak Tree Gardens to include demolition of No. 91 and retention of No. 89 with minor alterations to roof and Erection of eight 2 1/2 storey, 4 bedroom houses comprising of two terraces of 3 houses, one pair of semi detached houses and one detached single garage; associated access, parking, landscaping, cycle storage, refuse and recycling provision.

If you are likely to be affected by this redevelopment you can view the details of the plans in PDF format at the following webpage:-

https://searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NF67LBBTJX000

If you wish to submit a comment to the planning officers you can do so by clicking on the second tab labelled "Comments". This should be done before 30th December 2014

Following consultation with some residents who would be affected by the development L.E.R.A. proposes to submit an objection to the application.

Classic Film Club St Andrews Church, Burnt Ash Lane 11th December

 It's a Wonderful Life 1946

Starring  James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore 

Director Frank Capra

An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

Thursday 11th December 2014

 Doors open at 6.45pm film show at 7.00pm

Cost - a £2 minimum donation per person is suggested to include refreshments at the interval.
For more information ring:-
Brian at James Harper 020 8464 0080
Rev'd Angela King      020 8313 3434
Rev'd Liz Davis           020 6460 4672

Burnt Ash Library Christmas Stories and Craft

Future Proposals for Bromley Library Service

The council are consulting about options for the future of the Bromley Library Service which includes:

• the development of community managed libraries
• market testing the core library service
• improving current library buildings

Surveys can be completed online or in your local library.

The council are consulting about the future of the library services as we must make further budget savings of more than £60 million from a budget of £206 million over the next four years and we are looking carefully at the future of every council service.

You can complete the survey at Bromley Library Survey

Please complete the survey to let us know your views. The consultation will run from Monday 1 December 2014 until Monday 2 February 2015.

It is important that all LERA members complete the survey. All of the three options proposed will mean a much worse service being provided at Burnt Ash or more likely lead to its its closure.

Burnt Ash Library Christmas coffee morning reminder