Francois Smit has run Margery Street TRA since 1978

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A CLERKENWELL residents’ group says it has been “robbed” of its community space for two years with no prospect of having it returned to them.

The Margery Street Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TRA), which represents around 200 flats, used to hold community get togethers and children’s parties in a centre above garages at the bottom of their street.

When that site, Charles Simmons House, was earmarked for redevelopment in 2015, the Town Hall promised Margery Street TRA representative Francois Smit that there would be a dedicated community space in the new building.

But six years since the old community room was demolished the keys have still not been handed over and, in a meeting with Mr Smit earlier this year, the council said they never will be.

Mr Smit told the Tribune: “We have been a very active community for years. We still have gardening groups and I send out a regular news­letter but we haven’t had a formal meeting for years.

“On the one hand I can understand – it’s a prime little piece of real estate in the centre of London. But on the other hand, how do they square the circle? They say they want to support the communities and then they take away these community assets.”

The community room has been empty for years

The council told Mr Smit that they need to rent out the community room to generate income.

Mr Smit explained that the redevelopment of Charles Simmons House has been a “fiasco”, facing numerous delays, including because the building contractors went bust during the project, which is why the community room remained unavailable for so long.

The decision to revoke the residents’ community space seemingly took place before the launch of a review into the council’s community spaces, which is currently ongoing.

The review aims to maximise the use of community centres in Islington and “ensure they provide the support and activities that residents and communities need”.

At a council meeting last month, Islington’s communities chief Cllr Sheila Chapman admitted that it is not even known who has the keys to some council-owned community centres.

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “The premises has not been marketed and will be advertised soon.

“Voluntary sector organisations, including the Margery Street TRA, are welcome to submit a proposal to use the community space.

“The council has not yet made any decisions about the future use of the space.”