Campaigners launch national appeal to save Kensal Rise Library

Crusaders need �70,000 to secure axed branch as their own

A campaign group has launched a national appeal asking for pledges to help them run a community library in one of the borough’s disused reading rooms.

The Save Kensal Rise Library Campaign is striving to raise �70,000 to secure Kensal Rise Library in Bathurst Gardens and run a community library from it.

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 College in Oxford, who now own the building following its closure by Brent Council last year.

Paula Gomez Medina a trustee of the group, said: “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.”

Any proposals need to be submitted to All Souls College by September 7.

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

The appeal immediately attracted a 10,000k pledge from Daniels Real Estate Agents who have supported the campaign since it began.

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.”