Part of Ealing Council’s Perceval House headquarters has reopened to the public, with newly refurbished event spaces now available to hire by community groups, charities and businesses.
The revamped ground floor on Uxbridge Road includes a large central atrium and a range of flexible rooms that can be booked for meetings, fitness classes, exhibitions, children’s parties, weddings and other community events. Registered charities and eligible community organisations will be able to access reduced hire rates.
The reopening forms part of a wider programme that will see Perceval House host free lunchtime cultural and wellbeing events over the summer, including exhibitions from the council’s collections, a display of work by artist and naturalist John Hull Grundy, displays by local community groups, music performances, health checks, exercise classes, art classes and local history talks.
A new Learn Ealing skills hub, co-funded by the Greater London Authority, will also be based in the building, offering adult learning, employment support and skills training. While the building has reopened for community use, residents cannot access face-to-face council services there.
Council leader Councillor Peter Mason said: “Reopening the ground floor of Perceval House represents our physical commitment to being an open, inclusive and transparent council. We’ve worked to transform the building into an accessible home for communities across the borough to come together to meet, celebrate, and learn.”
The reopening has been welcomed by the Ealing Liberal Democrats, although the party said the refurbishment was a missed opportunity because it does not include the return of face-to-face customer services.
Liberal Democrat councillor Connie Hersch, the party’s spokesperson for crime, anti-social behaviour, communities and culture, said she was pleased to see “finally some progress”, but believed the council had missed an opportunity to improve access for vulnerable residents.
She said: “The Ealing Liberal Democrats are disappointed that this is another missed opportunity to meet the needs of residents who are crying out for strengthened resident engagement routes with face-to-face services for vulnerable residents. I am pleased that there is finally some progress, but it shows a real lack of interest by Ealing Labour on engaging with its residents on meaningful service provision.”
Responding to the Liberal Democrats’ comments, an Ealing Council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “We know most of our residents can access the council’s services online – it is the most convenient, easy and efficient way for them to contact us.
“We also recognise some residents may need additional support to access services and we proactively reach out to those individuals and ensure they can access council services in other ways. This includes by telephone and through our network of seven community hubs across the borough, which provide residents with advice and support in their local communities. Their locations and opening times are on the council’s website.
“We will continue to review how the new space at Perceval House will be able to meet the community’s needs.
“We want to emphasise that the reopening of the ground floor of Perceval House is wonderful news. We have transformed the building into an accessible community space where residents can come together to meet, celebrate and learn.”
