Campaigners aiming to save Hammersmith's Irish Cultural Centre from being sold are collecting signatures for a petition at key locations around the borough.

Look out for them at Charing Cross Hospital and the Hammersmith campus of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College on Tuesday January 11 and King Street and Hammersmith Broadway on January 12, one day before the deadline of January 13.

The petition is also available online to allow people to show their support for the Blacks Road centre.

In January 2009, Hammersmith Council agreed to extend the centre's lease from April 2012 to April 2017. They have since announced they will no longer honour their agreement and have instead decided to sell the freehold. The proposed purchase price is between £2m and £2.2m.

The Centre is looking into every avenue as to how best to raise this amount. In the meantime they have created the petition to the council to reconsider their decision, or at least extend the lease until 2017 to enable them more time to raise the funds.

Alternatively, supporters can show their support by signing a paper copy at the Irish Cultural Centre reception desk.

The aim is to get over 5,000 signatures in support of the Centre in order to submit a petition to the local council by January 13.

Campaigners hope that by raising this number of names, the council will have to allow them to present their case at a full Council Meeting on January 26. Only the names of those who live, work or study in the borough will be considered legitimate for the purpose of this petition.

The Centre also suggests that residents lobby their councillors, and let them know why they feel the centre is of value, and what they feel the impact will be if the centre is sold.

Campaigners are also asking anyone who can help to collect signatures to please contact Kelly O’Connor for more information on 020 8563 8232 or via email at am@irishculturalcentre.co.uk

January 10, 2011