Plan to convert into two-screen cinema, bar-café and arts hub

Acton Old Library

A community-based bid to take over the old library on Acton High Street has been formally submitted to Ealing Council.

For the last two years, the Acton Arts Project, a team of Acton residents and dozens of advisers have worked to forge a commercial bid to transform The Old Library into a two-screen cinema, bar-cafe and arts hub. They believe this will boost regeneration of the High Street and improve the attraction of the area particularly in the evenings.

It is over 5 years since the library shut and the group behind the project believe no other bidder will be able to match them for local know-how and their commitment to getting this landmark building back to the community use it was originally intended for when constructed in 1899. The Old Library was a gift from the philanthropist John Passmore Edwards.

The Council hasn’t yet made clear how it will go about choosing the preferred bidder, or how much weight it will give to the building’s importance as an Asset of Community Value.

In a newsletter to supporter the Acton Arts Project states, “We do know it’s aware of the five thousand supporters locally who back The Acton Arts Project and our plans to develop it into a vibrant venue, appealing to all of Acton’s diverse community. And we do know this will take money - £100,000 is the target. Crowd-funding will be our gateway to the grants and commercial rents our partners will pay to make to make it work.

“We want Big John’s building back - for the Acton people he wanted it to serve.

“Today, after seemingly endless delays, we have a firm proposal in front of planning officers and councillors. To help us have the best shout - please support us, get your friends and neighbours to support us, and please WATCH THIS SPACE. “

Another of Edwards’s gifts was Shepherd’s Bush Library which has now been transformed into the Bush Theatre which has been an inspiration for the Acton bid.

August 23, 2019