• AT the same time Boris Johnson’s Westminster Conservatives have wasted £6million on the Marble Arch Mound disaster, a secret city council document has revealed plans to close a number of Westminster libraries, (Cuts may see axe fall on historic libraries, February 11).

It seems the council has financial problems and has been quietly planning radical cuts to Westminster’s libraries – without any intention of telling people about them before the council elections on May 5.

Based on the information in the document, Westminster Libraries and Archives: Overview of Transformation and Next Steps, the council is preparing to:

— Close Charing Cross library and merge it with the Westminster Reference Library. The council says it is “not cost effective” to continue with both Charing Cross library and Westminster Reference Library.

— Close the purpose-built City of Westminster Archives on St Ann’s Street.

The council document says, “off-site storage” will be “explored and fully costed, with a view to repurposing the existing building”.

— Break their promise to replace the St James’s library.

— Only extend the lease on Mayfair library for a short period with no commitment on its future.

Just imagine what improvements could be made to Westminster’s library service with just a fraction of the £6million wasted on the useless Marble Arch Mound.

It really is time for Westminster’s Conservatives – world class wasters of your money – to be kicked out of City Hall in May.

CLLR PAUL DIMOLDENBERG
Labour City Management Spokesperson
City Hall, Victoria Street, SW1