Camden’s 5pS headquarters in King’s Cross

CAMDEN Council is threatening a vulnerable woman with “court action” after she was allowed to rack up a debt for more than £4,500 for food she has not eaten.

Alice Talbot, one of the first tenants to move into the flagship “extra care scheme” when it opened in Chalk Farm, has refused to eat a hot meal provided to all residents every day.

She says she would rather spend her money on healthy fruit and veg from the supermarket, and cook for herself in her own kitchen – but has now received a legal letter threatening eviction.

The council says the hot meals are provided to all tenants to ensure they have a healthy and balanced diet and that this is part of the service agreement.

But Ms Talbot has since always maintained she was not made aware she would have to pay a separate charge for daily meals.

I have seen Ms Talbot’s tenancy agreement and there does not seem to be any clear mention of charges for food being included in her service agreement.

The new 38-home building in Chalk Farm was hailed as the future of care services in Camden, a place where the council would “support residents of all ages with social care needs to live independently”.

Is the council really going to try and evict a vulnerable woman dependent on care support from an independent living home, rather than meet her modest request?

When I last asked about this earlier this year the council said it was “continuing to work to find a solution that works for all”.