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Since 1937 the municipal building housing the Town Hall and
Assembly Rooms in Church Street has played a significant part in the lives of thousands of
local residents. Dances and big band concerts in the 1940s and 1950s, political meetings,
Jewish, Turkish, Asian and many other culturally diverse celebrations have taken place
inside this attractive venue. Rumours of its sale have been rife for many months. Senior
Council officials are being blamed for planning a sell-off. It seems that the financial
mismanagement of Hackney threatens yet another well-known and much appreciated facility.
Councillor Sylvia Anderson, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Clissold Ward, wrote to us to
protest...
'This Spring, the burning question for Stoke Newington residents must be "What is to
become of our Town Hall?" My fellow Liberal Councillors and I will fight any attempt
to sell it off. It is as important to Stoke Newington as St Mary's Church or Clissold
Park. I can remember as a small child in 1939 being taken there to be fitted with my new
gas mask. Painters were putting the finishing touches to the camouflage. I thought the
colours were beautiful but my mother stood in the street and wept. Watching the Town Hall
being prepared for war made what was a threat into a reality. Now we are facing a
different crisis but to sell off the family silver is not the solution.
Church Street is recognised throughout London as being one of the best places to eat out.
During the evening the area is buzzing with customers, but we need a vibrant daytime
economy to sustain it. This will never happen if the Council's policies are not
supportive. Filling up the Town Hall with workers and new projects will promote that vital
daytime economy which, in turn, will enable shops and restaurants to pay for rates and
services. There are some serious questions, which need answers.
How could the Council allow one of its major capital assets to decay into such a state of
disrepair?
Why do we house Council staff in expensive leased properties when we own the freehold on a
virtually empty Town Hall?
Until 1965 Stoke Newington was a separate borough with little connection to Hackney. We
have now created the Neighbourhood Committee structure across the borough, which has
proved a great success. Why not go further and devolve more services for the benefit of
residents and place them in Stoke Newington Town Hall. Possibly leasing part of it to
small businesses and local community groups (for example, the Stoke Newington Festival and
a nursery) would also help.
There are numerous possibilities but we need to embark on extensive consultation with
local residents and businesses. The Town Hall is part of our heritage and with our
determination can be part of our future.'
Hackney Labour Party issued the following statement:
'Labour Councillors in Hackney have pledged to fight to keep Stoke Newington Town Hall as
a public building. Council officials and local Tories have targeted the Town Hall for
possible sell-off.
Labour Councillors have come up with an alternative scheme. They want to sell-off
municipal offices in Stoke Newington High Street. This would raise cash to do up the
Assembly Rooms at Stoke Newington Town Hall. Without renovation, Council officials say the
Town Hall Assembly Rooms could become a health and safety risk.
Labour's scheme would involve more council staff moving to Stoke Newington Town Hall, thus
regenerating the day-time economy of Church Street, and the Assembly Rooms there being
brought up to standard to enable them to continue being used by the public.'
The Green Party wants to incorporate the Library in any future plans for the
complex. Councillor Chit Chong said:
'It has the potential to be an Internet Centre for Stoke Newington. This will provide
training and access for local people, and encourage new businesses. For the Town Hall, we
would like to see all those Council Services which can be effectively devolved delivered
from the Town Hall. This should be in tandem with setting up a One Stop Shop which will
make sure that all Council services are done so effectively in Stoke Newington.'
Robbie Richards of the Stoke Newington Church Street Business Association
commented:
'Businesses need people and the Town Hall employees are good customers. Church Street is
becoming depopulated during the weekday. There's a lack of overall planning on the part of
the Council that would establish a proper relationship between the amount of restaurants,
businesses and residential property. The local economy is becoming extremely unbalanced.
We need joined-up local government.'
Robbie would be happy with Stoke Newington Town Hall being run by a trust similar to that
at Shoreditch Town Hall which has a proven track record of commitment to all community
interests. Its Board of Trustees includes politicians, local residents, architects,
business people and artists. It promotes and markets its facilities a crucial element
in its success.
Public pressure to save the Town Hall and Assembly Rooms for community use mounted at a
meeting on 22 March. It was chaired by Pat Hammill of the Hackney Society and opening
speakers included Mike Roberts of the Stoke Newington Village Voice website who gave a
brief history of the building Labour Councillors Jessica Crowe and John Hudson, Liberal
Democrat Councillor Sylvia Anderson and Conservative Councillor Eric Ollerenshaw. Kevin
Crompton, Hackney Director of Learning and Leisure, also spoke.
There was all-party agreement on keeping the Assembly Rooms open for community use. Views
on the future of the Municipal Offices were split. Eric Ollerenshaw thought they should be
sold off, possibly for housing purposes.
The other Councillors said that the offices should contain Council employees. Views from
the floor were diverse, ranging from an angry onslaught on the integrity and competence of
Councillors to sensible criticism about the secrecy that has surrounded the issue.
Speakers said it was essential that there should be a greater involvement of ethnic
minorities in the campaign and one spoke highly of the architectural value of the
building.
Robbie Richards recalled his 20 years of business at the Fox Reformed and explained that
he had closed his wine bar at lunchtime during the week due to the lack of people in the
Church Street area. A local pub had done the same.
The outcome of the meeting was positive:
• A working party comprised of residents, Councillors, Council
officers and local businesses was set up to examine the options for the Town Hall and the
regeneration of Church Street. It will also look at the example of Shoreditch Town Hall.
• There will be an Open Day for people to see the building. This will be linked with
Architecture Week organised by local architect Angela Brady.
• The Council officers agreed to adopt a unified and co-ordinated approach to the
various development schemes now taking place.
It is clear that the meeting made the Council stop and think. The campaign organisers
deserve our congratulations but they also need more local support.
Write to us at N16 magazine and let us have your views.
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