Council to Sell Off Hayes Old Library. MP Accuses Council of Betraying Community.

Hayes Library in Golden Crescent is one of the oldest community buildings in Hayes and is a local heritage site. Now closed because a new library has been opened, local residents had been assured by the Council that the building would be retained for local community use. It has now been revealed that a report is going to Hillingdon’s next Cabinet Meeting to sell off the building to the highest bidder. It is therefore likely that the building will be sold to a developer and demolished for commercial or housing development. I have condemned the Council’s action as a betrayal of the local community. This building is a much loved part of our local heritage and for the Council to even consider selling it off is a betrayal of our local community. There are a wide range of local community groups representing local people of all ages and backgrounds that want to use this centre for their activities and were meeting to put their ideas to the Council for the community use of this precious building. Now they feel really let down. We are determined though that we will not let theses Councillors from the north of the borough sell off this vital Hayes community asset. The people of Hayes paid for this building and will not allow it to be stolen from us by this Council. If we have to occupy our old library to stop this municipal vandalism we will.
I have convened a demonstration with local residents and Hayes Councillors outside the library on Monday at 1pm. There will also be a street stall in Hayes town centre on Wednesday 31st March at 12 noon collecting signatures for a petition against the sell off and a public meeting that night at 8pm at Botwell Church Hall. (Venue to be confirmed on Monday).

submitted by John on 25 Mar 2011 at 10:46