Once again, the Leys Institute Library has been vandalised, with copper lettering on the Hilary Leys Wing being stolen last month.
This is the second time copper has been stolen and while the buildings, empty now for four and a half years, sit looking sad and neglected, vandalism is likely to keep occurring. Locals have thwarted several attempts at entry and suspect the roof is now leaking. It’s getting to the stage where council could be accused of demolition by neglect.
While the Waitematā Local Board and Auckland council staff have spent over two years consulting with the community and producing concept plans, there is still no budget commitment from the council finance arm. We know that staff have been working away on seismic strengthening plans, engaging with heritage architects and attempting to progress resource and building consents.
However, so far, they have been blocked by the council financial hierarchy.
And, meanwhile, our community is missing out on adequate library and meeting facilities and the enjoyment of our Category A heritage building.
The Leys Library and Gymnasium are part of a significant heritage precinct in Ponsonby, along with the Category A Ponsonby Post Office and the heritage listed original Ponsonby Fire Station across the road. Mayor Wayne Brown has publicly called for seismic strengthening on heritage buildings to cease and seems to lack interest in our heritage.
The Mayor may not value these heritage buildings, but our community certainly does and we are getting impatient with the lack of action in restoring the Leys.
This is a well-resourced and politically active community who will be asking hard questions come the 2025 local government elections. We expect to see restoration work actively under way by then.
If you wish to express your frustration with these delays, you can email Mayor.Wayne.Brown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and our local councillor Mike.Lee@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
You can also join the hundreds of members of Friend of Leys Institute by emailing co-ordinator Helen Geary at helen@geary.nz
Helen Geary, Friend of Leys Institute Co-ordinator
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Published: May 2024