Council Decides to Sell Off Hayes Library Despite Local Protests and Petitions

John said:

This response from HCT is just not acceptable and indeed patronising. Many residents and I wrote to HCT not for advice on how to submit a grant application but to ask HCT to play its role in preserving the library for the community by intervening directly to save the library. HCT was not set up just to sit back and wait for grant applications to arrive. It should see itself as having a wider role to fulfil its Trust’s objectives. That role is to intervene when an opportunity to assist the commmunity like this presents itself. What we need is for the HCT to be proactive, convene a meeting of the interested parties and working with the community help formulate a plan for the future of the library, including securing its purchase from the council. It is too easy for HCT to just sit back and wash its hands of this issue by arguing that it is waiting for a grant application. I urge the HCT Trustees and Chief Executive to wake up, get involved and play your full role in our community.

May 09, 2011 at 0:10

Christine Little said:

Thank you for the letters about the former Golden Crescent library.  These were discussed at our grants meetings earlier this week and the Trustees have asked me to reply.
I should make clear that we have received no application for funding to buy and preserve the Golden Crescent Library.  If we did receive a funding request the Trust would apply the same funding principles as it does when considering any other funding application. This would need to be from a properly constituted and accountable group; normally for a large grant we would expect this to be a charity.  The main criteria we consider when assessing a funding application are whether a project will:
  Secure maximum impact.
  Address social need and deprivation.
  Strengthen voluntary and community groups to help them to meet effectively the needs of the local community be achieved from grants.
  Improve community and social cohesion and integration
Increase the flow of grant money from other sources
  Create partnerships between groups

We would also need to be sure with a large capital project that there was a viable plan in place not only for a group to purchase a building but also for continuing maintenance and operating costs.
To date, the Trust has not funded the purchase of buildings and almost certainly the Trust would not purchase a building in its own right.  Our funding for Barra Hall and Townfield related to refurbishment of buildings for community use, rather than purchase.
I’m not sure whether there is a group that wishes to apply for funding, but if there is our next funding deadline is 31st May 2011. Applications received then will go to a Board meeting in early July.  A template for a stage 1 application is available for download on our website.  If the Board feels that it can consider a Stage 2 application as a result of this we would ask you to submit this for our September deadline so that you had a final decision on funding in late September 2011.
I hope this helps.  If you have any further queries please do contact me.
Christine Little
Hillingdon Community Trust

May 05, 2011 at 12:41

Helen Ingram said:

I remember when the same library which I used to walk past every day when I temped in Hayes was under threat before but saved - now it is happening again - Dot who worked for John McDonnell adn lived near the library would eb turning in her grave to hear this so I hope John’s rescue plan works.

May 05, 2011 at 0:45