Funding for Broadwater Farm Centre 'Pulled' as a result of financial mismanagement . And Nicky Gavron, Deputy London Labour Mayor, is Chair of Trustees! 21/11/04

Tensions are once again simmering on the notorious Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham, North London, made infamous by a riot and the murder of PC Keith Blakelock twenty years ago.  A Community Centre is to be closed with Trustees including Deputy London Mayor Nicky Gavron (who is Chair of the Trustees!) and three Labour councillors accused of permitting inadequate financial controls. Haringey Council's intention to 'pull the financial plug' from the Broadwater Farm Community Centre has led to mounting tension and aggression on the estate according to centre’s manager, Nacho Galvez. Despite the fact that the centre's trustees include Ken Livingstone's Deputy Mayor, Nicky Gavron, and three Haringey Labour councillors, Haringey Council has lost faith in the financial management of the centre.

William MacDougall, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Tottenham, said:

“The situation must be very bad indeed if Haringey Council is prepared to risk gravely embarrassing the Deputy London Mayor and three of its own councillors like this. It is clear that there are inadequate financial controls at the centre. Local Conservatives demand that there is no cover-up: a full independent investigation must take place, and the Trustees must be held accountable for financial management.  We also insist that replacement services for this estate be established urgently."

A spokesman for Haringey Council said that the council could not be sure that "public funds were (not) at risk" or were being "used appropriately."

ENDS.