Haringey’s Labour-run council has come under fire after it emerged that a decision has been made to sell-off much needed accommodation – just as the property market is crashing.

Haringey Council plans to sell off a hostel in Crescent Road, Crouch End to in order to raise cash to revamp council offices. Local Liberal Democrats have criticised the move saying that the impending recession is not a time to sell off the family silver and the housing needs of residents should be put before redecorating buildings for Council officials.

Liberal Democrats have written to the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive questioning the timing and method of the sale of the hostel.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Winskill, Crouch End, comments:

“We made the point to Labour’s Cllr Adje at Overview and Scrutiny that it is not the right time to start selling off the family silver. Haringey is suffering, as is the rest of the country, from a financial crisis not seen in seventy years, yet Haringey Council’s first priority is to raise cash to tart up council offices and cut accommodation provision for the most needy in the borough right down to the bone.”

Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Robert Gorrie, adds:

“Last year we forced Haringey Council to abandon plans to sell the Civic Centre and waste tax payers money on a new Council Chamber by making Labour understand that selling such an asset during the financial crisis would be a terrible deal for residents. But here we are again a few months later and Labour is hell bent on making a similar bad decision.

“Either Labour have very short memories or they are obsessed with wasting tax-payers’ money.”