Friern Barnet Library and One barnet protests

stolen from Mrs Angry

Dear friend,

1. Protest against One Barnet programme

We have two very important protests tomorrow, Thursday 6 December, and I would ask you to make the effort to support one or both.

Barnet Council’s Cabinet will meet at 7pm at Hendon Town Hall to decide whether to go ahead with the outsourcing of many council services in a contract with Capita worth at least £320 million – we don’t know the details: we are just the residents, after all! We do know that it will mean 200 jobs lost in Barnet as the work is moved to a call centre outside Barnet through which residents will have to conduct their business with the Council in future.

The £15 million NSL parking contract is already proving a disaster.

We can’t afford any more risks taken with our services and will be there to oppose the One Barnet programme!

Please join us at one of the following:

Thursday 6 December

MORNING: 7.30-9am, “Don’t let Capita in!” protest at Barnet Council offices, North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South/Brunswick Park Road, London N11

EVENING: 5.30-6.30pm, lobby outside Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4, then in the public gallery for the Cabinet meeting.

2. Save Friern Barnet Library!

The campaign to save Friern Barnet Library received a boost on 3 December when the Library building was formally added to the Council’s Schedule of Buildings of Local Architectural or Historic Interest. This makes it a little harder for the Council to sell off the building to developers who will want to demolish it.

However, the Council is still seeking a possession order and will be in court on 18 December to try and get that.

In advance of the Court hearing, we are gathering signatures – of individuals, campaigns, organisations – on the statement below which we will present to the press to show that the Council do not have the support of residents for their closure and sale of Friern Barnet Library.

Please let me know if you would like to sign this statement, by return email. Thank you.

Vicki Morris

Barnet TUC, publicity officer

Friern Barnet Library statement:

Library campaign groups, the Occupy activists and the local community share a common aim: that Friern Barnet Library should be re-opened in the existing building by Barnet Council and preserved as a library and community space with the involvement of local people.

The occupation of the Library is a direct action that has highlighted the massive community support for Friern Barnet Library, and challenged not only its closure but the One Barnet programme and the privatisation of our public services in general.

Sent on behalf of Barnet residents