Campaigners Steve Hudson and Sally Long outside Cricklewood Library

Campaigners want the building to be used as a ‘community hub’

Inside Cricklewood Library which was closed by Brent Council last year

Viewings have been held of Cricklewood’s disused library as campaigners who hope to run a ‘community hub’ in the space were given the chance to look round the building this morning (Thursday).

Members of the Friends of Cricklewood Library (FOCL) alongside various community groups were shown round the reading room by property consultants Cluttons, working on behalf of the building’s owners All Souls College in Oxford.

FOCL, who have been campaigning for the building to remain a library, said they were keen to open discussions with any groups.

Sally Long, a member of the group told the Times that the area has had a long standing connection with All Souls College.

She said: “All the local streets round here are named after former fellows and members of the college.

“The building was given to us to be used as a library for the community and we want to carry on that ethos and work with other groups to provide a community hub.”

The library, in Olive Road, along with Kensal Rise Library in Bathurst Gardens, were given to Brent Council as a gift from the Oxford College in 1900.

However, in February, a reverter was triggered which meant that the buildings now belong to the college again.

Sam Graham, who led the viewings, said the college were looking at all options but were keen to accommodate parties, which fitted in with their ethos.

Last year, Brent Council permanently closed the library alongside Kensal Rise, Preston, Neasden, Tokyngton and Barham libraries in a move which will save £1m.

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