Our initial fundraising target is to pay expenses for writing a pre-action letter for a Judicial Review to be sent to Hillingdon Council over their failure to process nominations asking for the Rural Activities Garden Centre (RAGC) to be granted Asset Of Community Value status.
This legal status was introduced in the Localism Act of 2011 to protect centres such as the RAGC from being closed, sold and re-developed. A time limit of 8 weeks for councils to consider nominations is laid down by the legislation but this expired in August so the council is in breach of this law at the time of writing and remains intent on closing RAGC.
We have repeatedly appealed in writing to senior politicians within the council and relevant senior council officers to ensure the Council obeys the law in this regard, but to no avail.
RAGC was established in the early 1980s through the efforts of volunteers working with those with learning disabilities and autism, it is a medal-winning centre of excellence providing horticultural and woodworking therapies for over 40 vulnerable, disabled adults with learning difficulties and/or autism. It also has aviaries and biodiverse ponds created by volunteers to be enjoyed by voluntary gardeneers and visitors alike.
Volunteers have played a key part in the establishment, expansion and operation of RAGC but of equal importance is the brilliant and totally committed team of qualified staff who have created a life-changing supportive and safe environment for vulnerable people to grow not only plants, but also their confidence and social abilities.
Local GPs have expressed alarm at RAGC’s potential closure as they use social prescribing to refer patients with mental health problems there. Local colleges such as Uxbridge College are reliant on RAGC for training for their students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and some local schools also use the centre. It is an irreplaceable resource used by people from across Hillingdon.
The Council failed to respond positively to a petition with over 6,000 signatures asking to stop the closure of RAGC, this being one of the biggest petitions in the history of Hillingdon. Strong opposition to the closure has also been expressed by two local MPs – Danny Beales and John McDonnell.
There was a debate in Parliament relating to this issue on 4th July 2025 and at the invitation of Danny Beales MP, some of the family members who would be most impacted by the closure of RAGC attended (see photo below).
The council’s surprise decision to close RAGC was communicated at a hurriedly arranged meeting on 30th May. The tearful audience of those with learning difficulties, autism and their families received only 48 hours notice of the meeting, despite the life-changing impact the closure would have on so many. There was no agenda to the meeting and no minutes have been provided but the council’s intention to close RAGC was clear to all. Alternative arrangements for vulnerable people proposed at the meeting are unsafe for many of them to the extent that a Safeguarding Enquiry has been requested by families impacted.
It would indeed be an act of corporate vandalism if the council destroys this social care and training facility which has taken over 40 years to develop to its present state of excellence. It is ironic but accurate that until recently the official Hillingdon Council web site described RAGC as the council’s “hidden gem”. The plan to close it coincided with the council’s widely reported financial difficulties.
We fear that the council’s delay in processing our nominations for RAGC to become an Asset of Community Value might be because they want to sell the land, something the council has repeatedly denied. Selling the land on which RAGC stands could raise cash to help the council avoid issuing a bankruptcy notice (Section 114 notice) before the Council election in May 2026. The protection provided by the Asset of Community Value status for RAGC could prevent them selling the land before the election and would give community organisations such as Friends of RAGC an opportunity to raise money to bid for this centre. That is why it is so important for the pre-action Judicial Review letter to be sent as soon as possible.
Any funds raised through CrowdJustice in excess of the amount needed for the pre-action letter will, subject to legal advice and the rules of the CrowdJustice Platform, be used to fund further legal action relating to the closure of RAGC as there are other opportunities to stop the ill-conceived closure plan.
For the time being, staff and volunteers continue to work behind locked gates at RAGC but the council has already denied access to the thousands of residents who spent leisure time at this oasis of tranquility on the West Drayton Road. Many of them used to buy plants and other garden items produced by those with learning disabilities who attend the centre. The significant sums raised from these sales passed to the council and are one reason why this centre is such excellent value for money in terms of social care and social cohesion. Inexplicably, the council has already removed the tills from the centre as well as locking out residents, thereby depriving the council and council tax payers of revenues generated by sales of products produced there. These sales recently amounted to about £80,000 per year.
As if to demonstrate its determination to close RAGC, the council sent in a contractor with an angle grinder on 6th August to cut down the metal sign outside RAGC. Needless to say, this was upsetting to those with learning disabilities and autism who are still using the site for their horticultural therapy. Some of them were able to recognise the apparently symbolic nature of this unnecessary gesture by the council.
Looking to the longer term, Friends of RAGC, is working with some senior local politicians across the political divides, with support from MPs, to assure the long term future of RAGC. This is likely to involve the establishment of a Community Interest Company or Charitable Company to remove RAGC from political control to avoid a repeat of the present situation. Unfortunately we are finding it difficult to get the promised financial information relating to RAGC from the Council. We need this information to progress discussions further.
Now that all the events of the past few months impacting RAGC are in public view we hope that the council will reconsider its position and work with us to ensure a long term and secure future for RAGC and those vulnerable residents with learning disabilities who use it. Many of these people who rely on RAGC are unable to represent themselves because of their disabilities but a local film maker kindly volunteered to make a three minute video featuring some who are able to communicate and other local people who are advocating for those who can’t. It is well worth watching.
Sadly, Hillingdon Council refused to let us film at RAGC but you are welcome to visit our Facebook page which contains some photos and videos relating to RAGC.
ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE IN HILLINGDON WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND AUTISM WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A HUGE THANKS FOR YOUR DONATION FOR LEGAL ACTION TO HELP SAVE THE RURAL ACTIVITIES GARDEN CENTRE FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
