Comments on The Greenwich Phantom: East Greenwich Library

I too am concerned as to the current state of the ...

2009-02-27T15:44:00.000Z

I too am concerned as to the current state of the East Greenwich Library building and am worried as to the future plans for it. I don't trust their so called consultations either, as I have had too much experience of them to know they are meaningless. The only way way to get them to take notice is to vote the councillors out, get people in who care about our old buildings and have a change.

A number of years ago, we formed a group called FRIENDS OF EAST GREENWICH LIBRARY (FEGLIB) and we managed to keep the services for local people and save the building from destruction and being turned into a McDonalds. I managed to list the building to stop this. I believe its heritage and Carnegie's generous gift deserves to be looked after. I feel sad to see how they have let it deteriorate. I hope we can do something to change things for this grand old building. I would be pleased to hear from anyone who is interested in doing something positive to save the library and the building.

Terry Wheeler

FRIENDS OF EAST GREENWICH LIBRARY
Terry Wheeler

853 blog, I live in East Greenwich and I was refer...

2008-11-01T17:57:00.000Z

853 blog, I live in East Greenwich and I was referring to that particular spot next to the flyover. Where I hail from is irrelevant.

Greenwich Council's been itching to get rid of the...

2008-10-31T11:28:00.000Z

Greenwich Council's been itching to get rid of the old library for years - there was an active Save East Greenwich Library campaign in the early 90s who staged an all-night vigil the first time they planned to close it.

Until it was downgraded in the 80s, it was a beautiful old library - I nearly cried when I walked in there and saw what had become of it a few years back.

Having been brought up in that "outside khazi of East Greenwich", I'd like to see the luxurious spot that scared of chives hails from, by the way.

rtb, have to agree - that particular spot is the o...

2008-10-29T15:54:00.000Z

rtb, have to agree - that particular spot is the outside Khazi of East Greenwich

Yes, but one doesnt see any of those "luxury apart...

2008-10-29T15:49:00.000Z

Yes, but one doesnt see any of those "luxury apartments" currently taking shape on Trafalgar Road actually getting sold now, does one?

I imagine that, given East Greenwich Library's position right on the motorway roundabout, with about 5 busy bus routes stopping literally outside all day and all night, there wou't be that many takers. Would you? I wouldnt!

I'm afraid to say that your proposed campaign is a...

2008-10-28T20:26:00.000Z

I'm afraid to say that your proposed campaign is a non starter Phantom. Look around London and you will see dozens of buildings that were originally left for the 'Good Citizens of ......." are now in private use. The Landlords merely argue that any revenue from the building, once sold, will be put back into the community in other ways. It is a tried and tested method, I'm afraid.

As has been mentioned before the builders have an obligation to 'consult' but no obligation to 'listen'.

Maybe our esteemed councillors who are very quiet on this issue should pipe up and say something. After all, they were the ones that voted for this project as our representatives.

In what I believe we are obliged to call 'the curr...

2008-10-28T17:32:00.000Z

In what I believe we are obliged to call 'the current climate', I would have thought that luxury flats next to a busy roundabout and flyover would be a total non starter.

But then I thought luxury flats on Trafalgar Road were a non starter as well, so what do I know?

Sounds exactly like the "consultation" they carrie...

2008-10-28T16:30:00.000Z

Sounds exactly like the "consultation" they carried out for West Greenwich Library, when it was proposed it be mothballed and all the books go to the new library on the old Greenwich Hospital site. This involved putting requests for comments from the public on the Greenwich Council Website (hidden away on the "libaries" page, rather than on the front page - with nary a poster to be seen at the library itself. In fact, had I not been looking on the website for something else, I never would have heard about it. I very rarely use either East or West Greenwich Library, as Eltham Library is just round the corner from where I live, but I'm vehemently against public buildings (even those of minor architectural merit; you have to admit that East Greenwich Library isnt exactly stunning) being turned over to private use.

great idea nicksphotos. I am sure Christopher Fowl...

2008-10-28T16:26:00.000Z

great idea nicksphotos. I am sure Christopher Fowler would be quite interested knowing his love of London, especially South East.

And I love his books!

The library was built as the central library for t...

2008-10-28T15:13:00.000Z

The library was built as the central library for the old Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich -who extended it sometime in the 1920s. If you can find a way of looking out of the back of the library there is an empty space where most of the 1920s extension fell down in the 1980s.

I suspect like all the buildings in central london...

2008-10-28T14:26:00.000Z

I suspect like all the buildings in central london they would be able to get away with knocking the entire thing down behind the facade and building some new monstrosity behind it.

Maybe we should campaign for it to become a Christopher Fowler museum as he seems to love putting it in his books and he is a relatively famous son of Greenwich :)

If it's listed, they have to get Listed Building C...

2008-10-28T12:58:00.000Z

If it's listed, they have to get Listed Building Consent for any alterations. There's a good argument for saying that the interior is an integral part of its value, and there's no way they can assume that they'll be able to gut it or demolish everything bar the facade.

It's worth keeping an eye on this, objecting when any proposals come in, and contacting the Victorian Society.