There was further controversy over the future of the Red Gables family centre at last night’s Full Council meeting, when the Labour Lead Member seeking to shut down the much-valued centre refused to answer a question from Lib Dem councillor Ron Aitken on how many local families used the service.

The Lib Dem question from Councillor Ron Aitken was in response to Labour claims that the centre is essentially a borough-wide facility that serves families from across the borough, many of whom have to travel considerable distances to get to it.

Cllr Aitken last night asked what proportion of the users were in fact from the local area – but was told the figures were not available.

Ron Aitken comments:

“Local users and campaigners value Red Gables as a local centre. The refusal to reveal how many of the users of the service are local will cause suspicions that this information is being withheld.

“Haringey does not want to admit that Red Gables is a vital resource for the local community in Crouch End. If their policy to shut the centre really is based around it being a borough-wide facility, why can’t they come clean about where the current users come from?”