Campaign is launched to save historic community hub

More than 200 people signed a petition to halt the sale of the Fleet Old School Community Hub and the building has now been successfully registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

This means campaigners have until October to raise funds to purchase the building, which they believe could cost around £250,000.

Now they are appealing to voluntary groups and organisations within the town to collaborate with them in trying to secure funding for the building, which has served as a vital platform for cultural enrichment for several decades.

It originally opened as a school in 1878 till 1986, then becoming a community arts centre run by Fleet Arts charity, a valuable home for local artists, musicians and theatre companies. Unfortunately, Fleet Arts had to move out in 2022, after 38 years there, due to rising maintenance costs (but they are still very much delivering their creative projects and events across the region from other premises, contact details below). Since then the hub – known locally as FLUB - was set up to campaign to save the building.

Derbyshire County Council put the building in The Fleet up for sale earlier this year and campaigners fear it is liquidating community assets to help deal with its £46m overspend.

They say the council failed to communicate its plans with them, despite the fact that the community worked together to raise money to save the building and spent time making minor repairs to the building.

Local artist Chris Lewis-Jones said: “We know from our campaign and the positive support we've received from the likes of Strutts Community Centre, Belper Community Enterprise Company, Number 28, Transition Belper, local artists, makers, tradespeople, health professionals, socially engaged practitioners and local residents that our aspirations are not only feasible, but important to the community, our community.”

Ian Pringle, who also lives close to the Fleet community hub, said: “The building was originally a school but, for the past 40-odd years, has been a community building that has housed many art groups. We need more community spaces like this; there is a lack of these buildings for children and young people living in the area.”

Local resident Mike Sykes added: “It is more than just a building; it's a symbol of our community's spirit and resilience. It's where friendships are forged, talents are nurtured, and ideas are exchanged. Losing it would be a tremendous loss and a huge blow to the community

“It connects local people and seeing it sold to a developer will be one less place, owned by the community, for us to go to.”

As the campaign to save the building gains momentum, organisers remain optimistic about its future. Through continued collaboration and support from individuals, businesses, and local authorities, they aim to secure sustainable funding and ensure the centre's longevity for generations to come.

For more information on how to support the campaign to save the building and get involved in the fundraising efforts, please visit its Facebook page www.facebook.com/fleethubbelper

• We have been asked to point out that the community hub is separate from the Fleet Arts community charity. The Fleets Arts charity, which has is a well-established community arts charity based in Belper, has been in existance since 1983. It continues to work with a wide variety of groups and partners across the region, delivering quality, diverse, arts workshops, projects, events and support, particularly with those at risk of social exclusion. To find out more about the charity, visit https://fleet-arts.org/