Save the Village Hall

Hammersmith & Fulham Council have announced within the past few months that they wish to sell several community buildings to raise cash to pay off debt. In early July 2010, the Council wrote to the Village Hall (in Bulwer Street, just off Wood Lane in Shepherd's Bush) saying that the Village Hall might be seen as "surplus to requirements" and that it could be sold with a few months. The letter stated that the Council had this stance: "Our priority has to be people not buildings."

Community Groups have used the Village Hall (ground floor) for decades, and the Shepherd's Bush Families Project uses the first floor to support families at risk. The Project has also suffered a cut in its grant from the Council.

A consultation document states: "Alternative accommodation will be identified for the Children’s Centre and users of the ground floor community hall will be provided with information on alternative sites for hire in the borough. However, with extensive space to be available over the Edward Woods and NDC Hub sites, there is not a strong business case to also retain 58 Bulwer Street for 3rd sector premises use."

Alternative spaces could be beyond reach for many residents who use the Village Hall. Dates and times are set and groups would have to find a slot in the timetable for much busier centres (called "hubs").