Spring 2012/2

Other news for West End Lane

The face lift to West Hampstead Library has now been completed and most people are very happy with it. But as its completion more or less coincided with the cut in our local opening hours, some have suggested the money could have been better spent on retaining our lost hours. The answer to this is that the exterior improvements were agreed and funded by the capital "spending pot" from the old Area Forum back in 2010 whereas opening hours are funded by the Council's revenue spending which is a completely separate lot of money. So its not that simple unfortunately. Its sad we've lost our hours and are now virtually back to where we were about ten years ago in the first round of library cuts.

In case you don't know what the new hours are -

• Monday 11am to 7pm
• Tuesday 11am to 6pm
• Wednesday 11am to 6pm
• Thursday 11am to 6pm
• Friday 11am to 5pm
• Saturday 11am to 5pm
• Closed on Sundays
and public holidays

So we've got an hour less in the mornings, some earlier closing, gained Wednesday and lost Sundays - so if you want the library on Sunday - you'll have to go to Swiss Cottage!

Meanwhile there are other changes to West End Lane - Walnut has closed which was sad as Aidan was a lively member of the local community - it is being replaced by a Sushi restaurant. The "Lion" closed for a makeover and it may revert to its old traditional name of "The Black Lion" which would be appreciated. Also a new butcher is due to open just opposite - something we have been missing in West End Lane for far too long. Its interesting that although some businesses don't stay long, there aren't too many empty shops at any one time. Lib Dem Councillor for West Hampstead, Gillian Risso-Gill has been very active in promoting a new Business Forum which has now officially set up and is already investigating parking problems and looking at the possibility of involvement in a new local market outside the Thameslink station. This would be a great opportunity for local businesses and crafts and build on the two popular and successful Christmas markets on West End Green.