Hope for HPAL as council explores alternative

Hertfordshire’s Performing Arts Library (HPAL) may survive if Hertfordshire County Council and a music charity agree to a plan to preserve its music collection for public use.

Concern over the future of the HPAL had been raised after the council proposed closing the service to save funds.

Choirs, orchestras, theatre groups and county-wide community organisations opposed the plan as many of them rely on the library’s affordable hire service for sheet music and performance materials.

After public consultation, the council has now announced it is in early discussions with Benslow Music, a Hitchin-based charity with a strong musical and educational focus, to explore whether it could take on the music collection and continue providing public access.

Councillor Chris Lucas, Hertfordshire County Council’s executive member for Resources and Performance, told Living: ‘The responses to the consultation on the future of the performing arts service demonstrated the strength of feeling that exists around the service.

‘Throughout this process we have been keen to explore whether we can find alternative options for the provision of the service to allow continued public access while also allowing our library service to make the necessary savings identified within our budget.

‘We are now having some positive conversations with Benslow Music. We are hopeful that we will find a positive solution. In addition, we will be retaining the drama playsets within the library service to allow ongoing access for drama and theatre groups.’

Among those campaigning to save the service is Berkhamsted Choral Society, which has around 80 members and regularly borrows vocal scores from HPAL for its three annual concerts and popular Come and Sing event.

Vice chair Elizabeth O’Reilly said the library provides an invaluable service, with volunteer librarians sourcing music at an affordable cost. Without it, choirs would be forced to hire or purchase scores elsewhere, often at significantly higher prices.

She warned that increased costs could threaten the future of some community choirs.

‘Choirs provide fantastic musical opportunities for those participating, but they also have hidden benefits by supporting friendships and reducing social isolation,’ she said. ‘With the benefits to mental health and wellbeing of singing widely acknowledged, we believe that closure of HPAL would be very damaging to so many people who gain so much benefit from their regular weekly singing rehearsals and concerts.’

Berkhamsted Choral Society says the impact would extend beyond singers themselves, with local venues potentially losing income from concert hire and audiences having fewer opportunities to enjoy live classical music close to home.

The society’s next concert is a joint event with Chorleywood Choral Society on Saturday 12 September at St Peter’s Church in Berkhamsted, when singers will be performing Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D Minor along with other choral classics.