Islington News: Amwell Street Traders Group | Islington Council | Margaret Lamont | Veterinary Practice

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 20 June 2008

Trader misled over cheap property sell-off

A MEMBER of the Amwell Street Traders Group claims that Islington Council “mislead the public” over the controversial sale of a £200,000 shop for £26,000.
Margaret Lamont, who manages Amwell Street veterinary practice, was given false information about the sale when she submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request in April.
She had asked the council for a list of the sale prices for the 222 council-owned properties sold off last summer.
As reported in the Tribune last week, Fontaines dry cleaners in St John Street, Clerkenwell, was sold for around £170,000 less than its valuation price. But the £26,000 price tag was only revealed exclusively by this paper last week.
Council officers told Ms Lamont in writing that the dry cleaners was sold for £260,809.
Finance chief Councillor Andrew Cornwell, who dealt with the property sale, refused to speak to the Tribune, instead referring queries to the council press office. A Town Hall spokesman said: “A transcribing error was made on an FOI response sent in May. No error was made in last year’s property sale and we haven’t lost any money.
“We’ve apologised and sent the correct information to the one resident who requested it.”

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