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The centre in Whitfield Street |
Fears over 'doomed' play area
Decision 'after polls'
ANGRY residents fear for the future of a former children’s
centre in Fitzrovia after the Town Hall refused to deny claims
that it might be sold off for development.
The centre, in Whitfield Street, was closed by Camden Council
in July 2004 to free up funds for another children’s centre
in Regent’s Park.
But the Fitzrovia Trust and the Charlotte Street Association,
who are keen to reopen the site as it is one of the few areas
of open land in the area, fears that the council is planning
to sell the land to developers after the local elections on
May 4.
Max Neufeld, the chairman of the Fitzrovia Trust, said that
Camden Council had already ignored their offers to revive the
playground.
Members of the Fitzrovia Trust and Charlotte Street Association
tabled plans to foot the bill for reopening the Children’s
Centre in Whitfield Street.
The groups claim the council stalled in discussions over the
site after discovering the children’s centre was built
on a 19th-century burial ground where two of Karl Marx’s
infant children are buried.
But the Town Hall’s legal team gave the green light for
development paving the way for a new playground.
Mr Neufeld said the council had refused to acknowledge their
offer and fears the lucrative plot will be sold off for luxury
flats.
He believes the council’s silence spells doom for the green
space and has called for Cllr Theo Blackwell, the deputy leader
for Camden and community development chief, to “come clean”
before the council elections.
He said: “It’s unbelievable. We are talking about
a small amount of money with a minimum amount of work. The centre
could be reopened by the summer. Their actions completely go
against their commitment to childcare.
“It’s all a bit mysterious. Clearly, given the closeness
of the local election and the marginal nature of the Bloomsbury
Ward, any plans for reopening would have been announced with
fanfares and trumpets. Failure to do so only confirms local
belief that after the election the site will be sold, a possibility
the Council admits is under consideration.”
Theo Blackwell, the deputy leader of Camden and community development
chief, said that a decision would be made about its future following
the elections. He said: “We have no power to come to a
decision in an election period because the normal schedule of
meetings has been suspended. Senior officers have been in contact
with the Trust about the site.
“We are deeply sympathetic to the demand for childcare
in the area.
“There is a chronic need for children’s facilities
but we cannot make a decision now. We need to be presented with
a proper study outlining the extent of the demand in areas of
Camden.” |
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