Tenants are being sought for the vacant Gayton Road library building - although no approach has been made to artists who are keen to take it over.
Harrow Council relocated the library from the pre-form, one-storey premises in Gayton Road, Harrow, to Garden House in St John's Road in March 2008, and the building stands empty and unsed but structurally sound.
The authority is now advertising for a full-time tenant to indefinitely rent the complex.
In doing so, however, the Conservative administration seems to have overlooked or ignored a petition submitted in October 2008 by Harrow Council's Labour group calling on painters, sculptures and their creative colleagues to be able to turn the space into a much-needed temporary art gallery.
Tim Oelman, a member of Harrow Visual Arts Forum and publicity officer for Harrow Open House, previously told the Observer: "We have always said an art space should be in the centre of town. Obviously, the ex-library would not be adequate for a permanent centre but it would give everybody the opportunity see how it would work and to give it a dry run.
"It wouldn't take much, I wouldn't have thought, to turn into a 'white space'. The other suggestion I made is that it could accommodate some artists studios."
The Gayton Road site was originally earmarked for residential development but this fell through when one of the two partnered housing developers which had obtained planning permission for 383 flats pulled out in October.
A Harrow Council spokesman confirmed: "The council is offering the Old Gayton Library building for hire while a decision is made about the long-term future of the building.
"The council will let the building to one constant user rather than for one-off casual hire. If someone can put it to beneficial use at their own expense it will help to offset some costs in what are difficult times.
"The building will be available for an indefinite period but the council will reserve the right to terminate any agreement with a six-month notice period."
