New community hub and library for Berkeley
The hub is set to provide vital services for local residents
A new £750,000 hub, which will provide vital services in a Gloucestershire town, has been hailed as a success of community perseverance.
The GL13 Community Hub in Berkeley is now open to the public and will become the venue for services, meetings and the town’s library.
The volunteer-run project for the old library site has been 13 years in the making. And it has been made possible thanks to the hard work and fundraising effort of the community.
Vice Lord-Lieutenant Richard Bradley conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the hub in School Lane. Also in attendance was Stroud MP Simon Opher.
John Stanton, chairman of trustees of the GL13 Community Hub, said the building will be much more than a library but a hub for the town and wider Berkeley area.
“We’ve got all sorts of activities planned,” he said ahead of the ribbon cutting.
“A number have already started, craft club, gardening club, history group and so on.
“We’ve got the food bank coming, Citizens Advice and housing advice from the council.
“All sorts of support services are planned. It will be a real hub for the community.”
He said the building has relied on 27 different sources of funding.
“It cost about three-quarters of a million,” he said.
“Stroud District Council were really helpful.
“We did a crowdfunding campaign and raised about £20,000 – a lot of the locals have been very generous.”
He also praised the District Council’s senior community infrastructure officer Krista Harris for her help.
Ms Harris said funding collected from local housing developments has gone towards the project.
“It’s been a delight to work with the committee, they’ve demonstrated strength and resilience against a very difficult funding climate to deliver this amazing project.
“This project was considered to be a really important item of social infrastructure that is going to provide for a multitude of community uses.
“It’s going to provide for all ages, everyone of all socio-economic backgrounds.
“The whole community can come here and enjoy the space.
“Where you’ve got an area like Berkeley which isn’t particularly well served with public transport, being able to have outreach facilities is really important.
“Other service delivery organisations can come to the public rather than making the public travel miles to them.”
She praised the committee and said they should be extremely proud with what they’ve delivered for Berkeley.
District Councillor Paul Turner (I, Berkeley) said the community hub is a major development for the town.
“The old library was one that was falling apart,” he said.
“When it came to demolishing it, they pushed on one wall and it all collapsed.
“It’s vital that the community has a meeting place. Berkeley has not had that properly.
“This building will give space for all sorts of services for the community.”
He was very grateful for all the support the District Council has provided.
“They are providing officers for support for housing repairs and arranging new classes for the elderly,” he said.
“One of the first things they are going to do is set up a balance and strengthening classes for the elderly.
“It’s going to become a major focal point for the town.”
District Council leader Chloe Turner (G, Minchinhampton) said she was really happy they were able to support them.
“The community has decided what the community wants,” she said.
“We’re just seeking to support that coming forward. That’s exactly what we want to be doing.
“It’s something central that works for everyone and can be a hub for all those other services.
“And it’s a beautiful space.”
The hub is open from 10am to 6pm on Tuesdays, 10am to 4pm on Fridays and 10am until noon on Saturdays.