New library for Sands End
Thursday August 4, 2011
A brand new, state-of-the-art library is set to be built in Sands End.
Plans were approved last night (Wednesday, August 3) to build the purpose-built community library at Hurlingham and Chelsea School, located in the Sands End ward.
The new facility, which is open to all residents and not just pupils of the school, will replace the library that is currently based at the Sands End Community Centre on Broughton Road.
The community centre is one of eight properties that Hammersmith & Fulham Council agreed to sell in February in order to reduce its historic £133 million debt.
The decision to sell was based upon the council’s commitment to prioritise front-line services ahead of underused buildings during the age of austerity. Sands End Community Centre has been underused for many years, despite repeated attempts to improve footfall and generate more activity through hiring out the centre.
As part of the decision to sell, the Council agreed to relocate all serviced based in the centre to alternative venues within the Sands End ward.
Just a stone throws away, Hurlingham and Chelsea School is the perfect location for the new library as the school has been looking to improve their library facilities for several years and develop closer links with the community.
The new 240 square yard library, will be open plan but subdivided into low level shelving units and pods for individual or group study, together with a reception and separate storage space and archive. A new school entrance will be built and teaching facilities in the school improved.
Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: ”Rather than simply closing libraries, like so many local authorities around the country are doing, we have struck a deal that will see a brand new branch opened, a school significantly improved and an underused building sold with the proceeds used to pay off the council’s historic debt mountain.
“In these tough economic times, the council is faced with a stark choice – we either close vital services or sell buildings that do not provide value-for-money. Taxpayers have told us which path they want us to take and we will continue to do all we can to direct the majority of funds towards the things that matter most to them.”
Almost all of the services that have been based at the Sands End Community Centre have now been relocated. Alternative gym facilities are now available at Club Energie Fitness in the Piper Building at comparable rates to the community centre but with far superior access and facilities. A range of children’s centre services are now being delivered from Ray's Playhouse Limited at nearby William Parnell Park. Most of the clubs and adult education classes that have been based at the centre will be provided at Hurlingham and Chelsea School and other locations. In preparation for the move, the council successfully piloted a number of classes at the school during summer term, including IT, English and money matters.
The council is also currently upgrading Fulham Library on Fulham Road. £80,000 is being spent on changing the locations of the children’s and teenage areas so that services to these two groups of library customers can be developed and enhanced. The council is also buying new books and other stock, introducing comfortable seating areas for reading or study, installing self-service machines to reduce queues and customer waiting time.
In addition, the Council recently signed a groundbreaking deal that will see it combine its library services with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council. The agreement will save taxpayers more than £1million a year and ensure all of their 21 public libraries remain safe from closure.
The Council has received considerable interest from a variety of potential purchasers during its marketing of the Sands End Community Centre. The bids received are currently being considered.
The new library at Hurlingham and Chelsea School will open in early 2012.
