‘If the council does not continue to waive rents some voluntary organisations will go to the wall’

• READERS will be aware of the various articles and pictures in the CNJ about the fantastic work of Queen’s Crescent Community Centre in distributing free hot meals (1,170 in a week) and food distribution.

I now understand that Queen’s Crescent Community Association, along with many other voluntary organisations, will now have to resume paying rent to the council.

In the case of QCCA this will be almost £1,000 per week. Yet the income of community centres has collapsed.

Some voluntary organisations, two in our area, do not have to pay any rent to the council and we heard that another had racked up a rent debt to the council of £129,000 which was, presumably, written off.

In addition I understand the strategic partnership funding is likely to end in December. This funding went some way to offset crippling rent, premises maintenance management and overheads.

The total cost of rents paid to the to the council by community centres is some £1.2million per year. Previous attempts to remove the rent burden were countered by the council that this funding would have to come from elsewhere.

Only last week we heard that some £5million had been wasted by the council on the non-contract for the Chalcots.

If the council does not continue to waive the rents then some voluntary organisations will go to the wall. Is this what the Camden wishes to happen?

Answers please.

MICK FARRANT,
NW5