Kensington and Chelsea Council has vociferously denied claims it is closing North Kensington Library and stripping the community of its assets.

They were made during a protest outside the library in Ladbroke Grove after it emerged that the Grade II listed building is to be leased to a nearby prep school.

But the Royal borough said the library was not closing, but moving to a new building just a stone’s throw away from the current site to Lancaster Road.

North Kensington Library

A similar row occurred in 2014 when the council tented a community education centre to a private school.

The Reclaim North Kensington Library group held a demonstration outside the building on April 18, opposing the administration’s decision to sign a 25 year lease agreement with Notting Hill Prep School (NHP).

They are angry that the public was not consulted on the plans for the library, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. They also say the new library will be overdeveloped as it will include a youth club, offices and a roof-top football pitch.

Local campaigner Edward Daffarn, from Grenfell Action Group was one of the demonstration’s organisers. He said: “This was built from public donation in 1891 so people from this area have education and progress. It was given to the council and they have asset stripped it and handed it over to the prep school and moved us to a building around the corner.

A banner at the protest outside North Kensington Library

“The building has been open as a public building for 125 years. The council is meant to be holding building in safe keeping for the public.”

And he said a newly build library would not sooth their anger: “They’re not building a whole new library, it’s going to be over-developed with a youth centre, office space and football pitch on the roof.

“People care so much about this library. We are not going to let them hand it over to their friends.

“The problem is the loss of what we consider to be our public space. This new library is an after-thought, they’re just catering for the needs of the prep school. They’ve just decided to move it around the corner.

“If they consulted people and they said close it and move that wold be fine. But they have found they can give it to their friends at the prep school and move us.

“People care so much about that building and we are not going to have it taken from us.”

'Library will not close until new one opens'

He called for a public meeting with council leader Nick Paget-Brown to discuss the future of the library, said demonstrations would continue if this did not happen.

Jennifer Nadel, Green London Assembly candidate for West Central and a co-organiser of the protest added: “RBKC are essentially asset stripping this community of all its public spaces. They know the financial value of everything and the real value of nothing.”

The council is accused of making it's decision without holding a public consultation

Kensington and Chelsea Council said a formal consultation is due to begin shortly, but that it had published it’s proposals in getwestlondon and several editions of the Westway Newsletter which goes to about 10,000 residents.

A spokesperson said: “At a time when libraries have been closed across the country the council aims to build a new, larger North Kensington Library on Lancaster Road just 50 metres away from its present location.

“In contrast to the current library building the new facility would be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

“The library will not close until the new North Kensington Library is open to the public.”