Fundraising has begun as campaigners hope to force a West London council into a u-turn over it’s controversial decision to close a garden centre in July.
Friends of the Rural Activities Garden Centre (FRAGC), which was shut down earlier this year, are crowdfunding for a pre-action letter as they aim to launch a judicial review against the decision made by Hillingdon Council.
Additionally, the FRAGC allege that the council failed to process their Asset of Community value nominations for the RAGC. If approved, this would have meant that if the RAGC land is put up for sale, the community would have a right to bid for it.
John Scrivens, the parent of an RAGC volunteer, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS] that the group intends to fight the council to ensure a fair outcome for the learning disabled volunteers. He added: “We’ve got such huge support across the borough, and I would emphasise it is not just the south of the borough where RAGC is.
“Normally, councillors are only too pleased when a local community group puts forward an organisation for asset of community value status, and they, you know, usually collaborate fully. I mean, we don’t understand why they would not process our nominations.”
John told the LDRS that Friends of RAGC were shocked at how quickly they were able to raise money to challenge Hillingdon Council. The fundraiser has already raised £2,185, hitting the initial target weeks faster than expected.
FRAGC say that the council decision to close the RAGC would be an act of “corporate vandalism”, further alleging that the council “failed to respond positively to a petition with over 6,000 signatures asking to stop the closure of the RAGC”, a petition which the group says was one of “the biggest in the history of Hillingdon.”
In a statement, Hillingdon Council said: “We apologise for the delay in processing the nomination of the Rural Activities Garden Centre as an Asset of Community Value. This is a complex process, and the council will make a decision as soon as possible.
“A pre-action letter for Judicial Review has not been submitted to the council, however any correspondence would be carefully considered before deciding the next steps.”
Andrea Scrivens has also been central to the campaign fighting to save the RAGC, closed by Hillingdon Council on July 31. She told the LDRS that there are rumours the council intends to sell the land – something the council denies.
She added: “Even if we get the asset of community value status for the place, it doesn’t mean they can’t sell the place to someone else, but they have to offer it to Friends of RAGC first.”
The RAGC has been maintained by volunteers with learning disabilities for over 40 years, however Hillingdon Council say these volunteers will be given a “more meaningful range of activities” elsewhere. More information about Friends of RAGC is available here.
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