The TRA hall: brand new but locked up

• AT the full Camden Council meeting last week it became clear that an injustice has been committed.

Maitland Park Tenants’ and Residents’ Association brought a passionate and articulate deputation to the chamber to plead for their being able to use their community TRA hall.

This estate was recently redeveloped as a Community Investment Programme project and the old TRA hall was demolished as a part of that scheme.

It turns out that in the last year the residents have only been allowed to enter their hall twice; once for Sir Keir Starmer to declare it open and once for a district management committee meeting.

The reason for this restriction is obscure and clarity was not delivered by the cabinet member for better homes in her summary response to their request.

Indeed, the many words with friendly meaning comprising “open to discussion”, “spirit of openness”, “we consulted” and “happy to work with you” did little to drown out the message of “some constraints”, “we need to find a tenant for the hall” and “we can’t subsidise this use”.

If, as I suspect, the financing of this project through the CIP arrangements has resulted in the so-called community hall becoming a private commercial facility which might be open to the tenants on special occasions, then an error has been made.

The original Camden consultation proudly boasted: “The completed scheme will include a new and improved TRA hall and investment in local play areas and landscaping.”

Camden should come clean and accept that there has been a mistake, should stop using the language of Sir Humphrey Appleby and deal with this mess.

If resolved swiftly, I will commit to the Conservative group not making a political issue of the farrago.

CLLR STEVE ADAMS
Leader of the Conservative Group