• THE report about Bassett Street and the intentions of “the gardeners” was too soul-destroying to read, (Defiant gardeners ‘won’t be uprooted’, September 5).

In May last year a few freeholders broke the ongoing relationship with the local tenants’ and residents’ association (TRA) that had enabled the food-growing project to continue since 2011.

During a highly politicised coup, these freeholders emerged as the elected officers of the local TRA garden, (“their garden” from then on).

That coup day rapidly progressed onto the collapse of the fragile equilibrium that had kept the garden activities and the local community flourishing together for years. The break-up of the local community was ushered without a blink.

It is perplexing to witness in this Labour Party stronghold that is Camden how prominent local party members are allowed to cause so much community division in order to finally succeed in usurping a social housing garden.

The garden was an asset of unfathomable community value while the TRA protected the social cohesion. The wretched defiance cry is the most unwise “community” call ever imaginable.

Please, “gardeners”, local and from afar, move your battle with the council away from Bassett Street. The community desperately needs an appropriate healing space.

FERNANDO
Bassett Street council tenant