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Camden Centre |
Camden Centre sell-off?
Building could be sold to private firm to fund repairs elsewhere
THE Camden Centre could be closed and sold to a private developer under controversial plans revealed at the Town Hall.
Plans are in place to transform the civic centre in King’s Cross into a centralised hub bringing all the Town Hall’s customer services under one roof.
It represents the beginning of plans to transform Camden’s property portfolio, which could see dozens of council-owned buildings lost to the private sector over the next five years.
Liberal Democrat finance chief Councillor Ralph Scott said: “What we want to do is bring together all council services in the King’s Cross area, including things like planning, licensing, parking and paying council bills – providing people with a single point of access on one floor. The total repair bill of the Town Hall extension could cost up to £20million. I think we have found a way of doing this that will not cost the taxpayer a penny.”
The Lib Dem-Conservative administration plans to fund improvements to buildings by selling some other properties – a method similar to the way the Town Hall has sold off council properties to pay for the refurbishment of other homes.
The council insists the Grade II-listed Camden Centre in Bidborough Street is too expensive to repair and must be sold to a private developer with a clause giving them free rent in two new floors of office space in the building.
Cllr Scott said: “The advantage of going down this route is that you find someone to build the building. We are not selling off the family silver, we are investing in it.
“The people that make that argument would have us all sitting in unfit buildings for the rest of our lives.”
But Labour’s shadow treasurer Councillor Theo Blackwell said: “If it’s about better customer service then we need to proceed on the basis of solid principles, not a fire-sale of public assets. The Town Hall needs to realise that people like face-to-face, local contact with public services – not some centralised council call centre.”
Refurbishment of the Camden Centre is expected to begin in September 2009 with works estimated to be completed by early 2011.
History of architectural jewel
BY all reports the blues legend Muddy Waters played a humdinger of a show when he performed at the Camden Centre 40 years ago.
The impromptu gig was just one of the highlights in the glittering 70-year history of the famous King’s Cross civic centre.
The Grade II-listed building, with a magnificent interior regarded as a masterpiece of art deco and boasting a prominent chandelier, was built as a major community venue in 1937.
The council says its “character and history” has attracted thousands of clients over the years.
In 2006, London mayor Ken Livingstone chose the venue to host a conference with the Hugo Chavez. The Venezuelan socialist president, himself a champion of public services, outlined his hopes for a new world order to more than 3,000 people.
The popular venue – fully licensed until 4am – has played host to a series of public meetings, union rallies, club nights, exams and trade fairs including the great London Beer Festival.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and Black History Month events are held there each year as well as Camden’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
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