The United Synagogue

Community Ponders Dunstan Road's Future

PRESS COVERAGE

London, 22nd February, 2008

COMMUNITY PONDERS DUNSTAN ROAD'S FUTURE

The future of Golders Green Synagogue has been discussed at a community consultation. The recently listed building is an architectural masterpiece, but the membership of the shul is relatively small. The status accorded to the synagogue by English Heritage means that there are restrictions on building alterations and renovations. The question is how to optimise the existing building and the site on which it stands to meet the needs of the community. The consensus of opinion is that synagogue m embers are reluctant for the shul to relocate and would prefer it to remain somewhere within the existing site, which is sufficiently spacious to accommodate it.

The community is faced with a range of options: selling the main building and using the proceeds to help develop a purpose-built synagogue and communal facility on the land at the rear of the sire; selling the land at the rear of the site and using the proceeds towards refashioning the main building into a communal facility; and selling the whole site and working with the purchaser to provide appropriate facilities on the Dunstan Road site.

Jacqui Zinkin, Golders Green’s Chairman commented: “The community consultation proved extremely fruitful and we are investigation a number of ideas presented by our members. Golders Green is a dynamic community and we hope to find a solution which will enhance the development of our community and respond to its needs for many years to come.” The committee is awaiting expression of interest in the building and the site and will then consider which proposition it can best work with.


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