Seven Kings Library opening (2)

New library interior

New library interior

PCSO Ames with the Book Bear

New library frontage

Crowds at the opening ceremony

Cllr Bellwood, Audrey Shorer (SKNPRA & St John's), Cllr Saund, Mr Hai, Chris Connelly (TASK), and various members of SKNPRA, St John's, and TASK

Newly elected councillor Ali Hai showing the petition which kickstarted the library campaign

Cllr Sue Nolan (Cabinet member for Leisure), Cllr Ali Hai, Cllr Keith Prince (Leader of the Council)

Seven Kings Library was opened today with a simple ribbon cutting ceremony, face painting and storytelling for children, and lots of opportunities for local people to see the facilities and sign up as library users.

Cllr Keith Prince, Leader of the Council, spoke about the Council's commitment to opening the library in Seven Kings as having signposted a shift in Council policy; a commitment to being a listening Council actively consulting with the local community. Ali Hai, now a Councillor for Goodmayes, (who, as a TASK member, played a key role in the library campaign) brought along the petition which made clear the level of community support for the campaign and let to community groups working more actively with Library Services to improve local provision and, ultimately, led today's library opening.

Many of us involved in TASK and the Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association (SKNPRA) were together again this evening for the Area 5 committee meeting in order to continue lobbying for change and development in the area, including the recommendations of SKNPRA's Community Street Audit of Aldborough Road South and local resident's concerns regarding the increased traffic congestion that will result from the expansion of Farnham Green School. So, as we celebrate a successful community campaign we are also reminded of the need for such campaigns to continue; not least for the way in which successful campaigns bring the local community together.

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Paul Johnson - Every Kind Of People.