Council Won't Continue Fight For Southall Town Hall Sale
After High Court Judge backs local residents over historic building lease
Ealing Council have confirmed that they will not be appealing against the decision of the High Court to stop the sale of Southall Town Hall.
In July 2018, Justice McKenna ruled that Ealing Council had acted unlawfully and unreasonably in deciding to sell the Town Hall. The council could have continued to fight throught the courts but has decided against.
Janpal Basran, Manager of Southall Community Alliance said, 'Prior to the hearing Council officers had repeatedly refused to disclose relevant documents or provide evidence to support their claims. We are delighted that a High Court judge has agreed that the Council ignored the legitimate concerns of the Southall community. Our campaign has been open, transparent and well informed and this decision caps a great day for all Southall residents who want to preserve our community assets'
Mr Basran says the judgement has set a precedent. “The decision of the High Court makes clear that councils across the UK must place communities they serve at the centre of their decision making. A full sale cannot be conducted where the interests and needs of the community are at stake, rather consideration must be had whether to sell buildings less than the highest price. This is a great victory for the claimant, the campaign and for anti austerity campaigners generally as the community value and the use of the building must be properly considered before being sold off to the highest bidder”. Helen Mowatt, solicitor at the Public Interest Law Unit (Lambeth Law Centre).
Secondly, he argues the fallout of the judgment could be significant. Ealing Borough is one the most diverse in London but, he says, the Council’s repeated failure to address equality issues is likely to erode its credibility even further.
“This is second occasion when Ealing has been found wanting on implementing its Equalities duties. In 2008 it was severely criticised by the High Court for cutting the grant of local Black led women’s organisation – the Southall Black Sisters. It seems to have learnt nothing from that period by playing lip service to its legal duties on equalities. Will it learn any lessons for this judgment? We hope so. It needs to change its mindset and direction and agree to work with the local community to save the iconic building. Otherwise it lays itself open to be judged by history for being institutionally deficient and discriminatory”. Suresh Grover, Chairperson of Save Southall Town Hall Campaign.
Mr Basran says this is a historic decision which represents the culmination of a mass community campaign to save the iconic Southall Town Hall.
''The claimant, Mr Mohinder Pal, a member of the IWA (GB) Southall Branch, is a 73 year-old local pensioner with no funds or resources. He fought an epic battle – resembling David versus Goliath – and won. Mr Pal is a user of the building and member of the Southall Community Alliance, a key local group based in the Town Hall.
''The SAVE SOUTHALL TOWN HALL CAMPAIGN will next arrange a public meeting in Southall, towards the end of October, about the future of the Town Hall and disposal of community assets.''
We have asked for comment from Ealing Council.
September 26th 2018