New £750,000 community hub and library opens in Berkeley

A brand-new community hub in Berkeley that will serve as a venue for services, meetings and as the town’s library is now open to the public.

A volunteer-led project 13 years in the making, the new GL13 Community Hub, on the site of the old town library, will give residents access to everything from housing advice to the local food bank and from craft clubs for the elderly to activities for children during school holidays.

The project team says the hub – which cost £750,000 to build – will serve the whole community and become 'a focal point' for the town, according to Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter.

Funding for the new building came from 27 different sources, including through Stroud District Council, community crowdfunding and contributions from local housing developments.

Stroud district councillor Paul Turner described the hub is a major development for the town at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.

He said: 'The old library was one that was falling apart.

'When it came to demolishing it, they pushed on one wall and it all collapsed. It’s vital that the community has a meeting place and Berkeley has not had that properly.

'This building will give space for all sorts of services for the community.'

Chairman of trustees of the GL13 Community Hub, John Stanton, praised the help the project committee received from Stroud District Council, along with 'very generous' locals who helped raise £20,000 from crowdfunding.

He said of the new hub: 'We’ve got all sorts of activities planned. A number have already started, craft club, gardening club, history group and so on.

'We’ve got the food bank coming, Citizens Advice and housing advice from the council.

'All sorts of support services are planned. It will be a real hub for the community.'