Wall of Shame around Kensal Rise Library as developer annexes community asset

Gillick's Wall of Shame going up around Kensal Rise Library today

The Bursar of All Souls College, Thomas Seaman, has confirmed that the sale of Kensal Rise Library to developer Andrew Gillick has been completed.

All Souls College therefore has no further role having facilitated Gillick's possession of the site by demolishing the pop up library. They appear to have ignored pleas that the sale should not be completed until police investigations had reached a conclusion.

They have washed their hands of the problem but it won't go away as we wait for confirmation that the police are definitely going to investigate the fraudulent emails in Mr Gillick's previous planning application.

Kensal Rise Library listing as Community Asset hailed as good news

Jodi Gramigni writes:

Great news! Kensal Rise Library has been added to the Brent Local Authority "List of Assets of Community Value".(Harrow Observer: Kilburn Times:)

This is extremely good news because it confirms the buildings significance as a Community Asset under the new legislation. Please see this LINK for further information:

In fact, Kensal Rise Library is already considered a special resource, and is also listed as a Non-Designated Heritage Asset in Brent, more commonly referred to as "Locally Listed". Being Locally Listed does not afford the same protection as English Heritage Listing, but it does require extra care and consideration by the Planners in regard to changes to the building, including change of use (i.e. from community use to residential use).

Why is this important? Because All Souls has chosen to sell Kensal Rise Library to developers for conversion to private flats even though the library is Locally Listed. Although we did not expect that All Souls would necessarily choose our bid, we did believe that they would choose a bidder who was sympathetic to the planning restrictions in place (i.e. school, charity, library, etc), because they advised us that community use was their preferred option. Sadly, as you know, this was not the case.

However, now that the Kensal Rise Library has been added to the "List of Assets of Community Value", we can prepare a bid (to buy) the building and try to keep it as a community resource. This is an important decision for the community and one that will be need to be thoughtfully considered and discussed in days to come.

You may be wondering if it is necessary, or if in fact if it is reasonable, to consider preparing a bid to buy Kensal Rise Library if All Souls has already offered us an area for a small library.

The truth is, the area All Souls College has offered only practically allows enough space to have one reading room. Because of this limited size we would most likely need to choose either an Adults Library or a Children's Library. As you might imagine we would like a better outcome for the community than a small one room library surrounded by flats. We have, of course, requested more space in our ongoing negotiations, and while nothing concrete has been forthcoming, we are always ready and willing to discuss alternative proposals. In the meanwhile this new development - Community Asses designation - supports the the buildings main function as a library and gives us another option to consider.

This will be our third Christmas campaigning for Kensal Rise Library. As the holidays approach, and frost envelops the pop-up, it is worth remembering that while the land was generously gifted over 112 years ago, the building was paid for by local subscription and donations. This community has always been, and will always be, committed to achieving a fair outcome, a moral outcome, and a just outcome, for our library.

Many thanks for all of your support!
Kind regards,
Jodi

Kensal Rise campaigners appeal for funds to strenthen their All Souls bid

 The Save Kensal Rise Library Campaign today launched an appeal, locally and nationally, to ask for pledges to help the community secure their library. 

The appeal immediately attracted a 10,000k pledge from Daniels Real Estate Agents who have supported the campaign since it began. Other pledges so far have been made by local people.

The group who have been campaigning for almost two years to save their library urgently need financial support to strengthen their bid to All Souls, the Oxford College that ownership of the building reverted to after its closure by Brent Council. 

Paula Gomez Medina a Trustee of the group said today,

We need to raise funds to secure the first year of operations, which includes urgent repairs to the building. We have a strong business plan and are confident we can make the library self-sustaining in the long-run, but we need the help of our supporters now. We are asking residents, friends, businesses and supporters to pledge a donation towards our target of 70K. 

We need these pledges urgently - by September 7th when our proposal needs to be with All Souls College.

We will only collect payment if our bid to All Souls is successful. If we are unsuccessful people will not donate anything.

In return for support the group are offering supporters a chance to become permanent public benefactors of the library.

Name on the wall (large) £1,000 Name on the wall (smaller) £500 Name a shelf £300 Sketch (+name) of you in the library crowd £100 pp Sponsor a chair £50 Adopt a book £20 Other 
Details about how to make a pledge can be found on the campaign website www.savekensalriselibrary.org

The Co-Chair of the campaign, Margaret Bailey, added:

 Support from the local community and beyond has sustained this campaign. People cannot doubt the seriousness and commitment of this community to have a library at its heart. We have all fought hard and long. We hope we can rely on the generosity and goodwill of the many people who agree about the importance of libraries to the well being of civilised communities.

As Mark Twain who opened our library said, "Lack of money is the root of all evil". We have been put in the position where our fight is not enough, and we need to find finance to prove ourselves.

 The Appeal follows Councillor Powney's claim on his blog LINK that campaigners have given up their fight for a library on the site.