Update 5/11/08

We've had some good news from the council. There's nothing in writing yet but our petition and protests have started to pay off. For now they have taken us off the plans for the redevelopment of the Common until we can hopefully reach a solution. So it looks like we'll be here for the forseeable future at least. We will get more details to you when we have them. Please still sign the petition if you haven't yet.

What you can do to help save Ginglik

£3.3 million is being spent on the redevelopment of Shepherds Bush Common.
We need to convince the council that some of these funds should be redirected to keep Ginglik open.

Our local MP Andy Slaughter has said if there is enough support he will lobby it at the Houses of Commons, so please:

> SIGN THE PETITION here

> EMAIL A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO AUTHORITIES
E-mails of support from you guys to the relevant people (see list below) will be a great help!

Please don't make your email too inflammatory as this wont help our case, we just need to impress on them how many people love Ginglik and why. Also please copy us in, info@ginglik.co.uk

Send your emails to:
stephen.greenhalgh@lbhf.gov.uk
Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh
mail@greghands.com
MP for Hammersmith & Fulham, Greg Hands
nicholas.botterill@lbhf.gov.uk Councilor Nicholas Botterill
andy@andyslaughter.com MP for Ealing, Acton & Shepherds Bush, Andy Slaughter (Andy is on our side and is going to support us as much as he can)

> ATTEND THE SAVE GINGLIK PROTEST ON SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24436388385

> INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO THE 'SAVE GINGLIK' FACEBOOK GROUP
& POST A MESSAGE ON THE WALL www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35587928336

Thank You,

Colin, Tammi & The Ginglik Team

Due to the planned £3.3 redevelopment of the Common, which starts next year, the council have said that our roof will need to be stripped back and the corroded iron supports repaired. We also have damp walls, which has never really bothered us but apparently if the council were to offer us a new lease they would have to completely damp proof all walls too, which is a costly and time consuming process.

The cost the council said of getting the property into this state would cost £300,000 more than the cost of filling the venue with concrete, which is what they've decided to do.

Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, said: "Delivering value for money is the council's number one priority and the reality is taxpayers cannot afford the £300,000 it would cost to make this building safe. With limited funds available, the regeneration of Shepherds Bush Green, which will benefit thousands of residents, had to be prioritised before these extensive and costly repairs. We will be working with the club to help them find an alternative venue."

Fair comment, the redevelopment may well benefit thousands of local residents, but are we not forgetting the simple fact that Ginglik which was voted best club in Hammersmith and Fulham by myvillage.com, has built up a membership database of close to 25,000, with each of these members bringing up to four guests at a time.