This week Laura Edge and I met with Council officers to discuss a plan to bring the Chettle Court Community Centre back into use – after decades of being left empty. The community centre is very large (2 floors) and was build to a high standard with a kitchen and disabled toilets, so it is outrageous the Council have squandered this resource for so long. Laura and I and the Chettle Court residents have made this point to the Council hundreds of times.
However, the Council have now got their act together and have developed a plan to make the community centre a second base for the Stroud Green Children’s Centre. This makes good sense as the Children’s Centre’s main base is at the opposite end of the ward at Stroud Green School – and the community centre appears to have been designed for small children.
However, in typical Haringey fashion the Children’s Service have neglected to mention this plan to anyone in Chettle Court or to local councillors. Laura and I had to ask for a meeting after the news appeared in Haringey People.
Whilst everyone supports the centre re-opening, local residents rightly have a whole host of questions: Where will the entrance to the children’s centre be? How will security of the block be maintained with parents from allover the ward coming in and out? Will residents be able to hire the hall – as they used to be able to?
I think this could be great opportunity to develop a really excellent community centre and children’s services that will benefit Stroud Green and Chettle Court. But Haringey Council need to start talking to local residents!