Beautiful building, fantastic location – but a financial nightmare. That’s been the history of Alexandra Palace over the last few decades as Labour have wasted tens of millions on one bungle after another.
Over the last few years we’ve seen Haringey Labour desperately trying to wash their hands of the problem – but wanting to do so by selling off much of the site on a mammoth 125 year lease to a private developer. A deal was sort-of struck with Firoka, which has since fallen through – leaving Haringey facing a £6.2 million claim from Firoka.
Liberal Democrat councillors have repeatedly criticised this deal – the way in which it was rushed through, the lack of decent public consultation, the lack of proper safeguards in the deal (especially for the historic TV studios) – and the failure to sort out crucial details.
Following the collapse of the deal, there have been two independent investigations – both with damning conclusions about how Labour councillors have behaved. The second one – known as Walklate 2 – concludes that “entering into and maintaining the licence [with Firoka for them to take over Alexandra Palace] has led to losses to the Trust in the region of £1,500,000. The Trustees were not given financial information of the effect of the licence … nor were they given the opportunity to consider whether they wished to revoke the licence.” That is £1.5 million in losses in addition to the £6.2 million claim.
So – millions wasted and the best not even being got out of the site for the local community.
More news
- Here’s my latest mini-video, this time about Alexandra Palace, and the huge sums of money wasted by Haringey Labour’s bungling: This film is hosted on YouTube. For more about the Alexandra Palace issue, see Neil Williams’s recent blog post. Related posts: Alexandra Palace: BBC cover story too Rather appropriately, I was interviewed by the BBC [...] read on
- Went out after surgery yesterday to visit two of the local projects funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. First off – the makeover for Alexandra Palace Park – where there is a real transformation. Now we have views along the axis – like a mini (very mini) Champs Elysees. Landscaping and renewal around the rose [...] read on
- Highgate councillor Neil Williams has blogged about the belated but very welcome moves to introduce streetcars to the borough, whilst Martin Belam has a great write-up / photo collection from a recent Alexandra Palace open day. Related posts: Alexandra Palace: BBC cover story too Rather appropriately, I was interviewed by the BBC earlier today... Alexandra [...] read on
- Last week Nigel Scott (Liberal Democrat by-election candidate in the Alexandra by-election) published his plan for the future of Alexandra Palace: Establish a new board with independent, expert trustees representative of local and national interests, with an independent Chair. Ensure proper consultation with residents about the Palace’s future. Refurbish the ice rink, make the Victorian [...] read on
- Press release is pretty self-explanatory, so here it is: Haringey’s Liberal Democrats are calling for the resignation of Labour’s finance boss and former Council leader Cllr Charles Adje following the publication of a damning report into how, as Alexandra Palace Chair, he pushed through the controversial licence for Firoka to operate in the building. The [...] read on
- Well, well – Ken Livingstone has been at it again – recycling old, broken promises just as election day nears. In this case – he’s making the same comments about Alexandra Palace that he made four years ago – and then didn’t act on in the four years since. As the news release from my [...] read on
- Brian Paddick came to Hornsey & Wood Green and we visited a number of hotspots. The area is becoming a bit of a regular haunt of his – he was here during the Highgate by-election too. This time I showed him Wood Green cross – which is the area that local residents in the Wood [...] read on
Liberal Democrats welcome Ally Pally decision
Last night’s landmark decision by the Board of Trustees, to abandon the search for a single developer for Alexandra Palace, has been welcomed by local Liberal Democrats. Yesterday the Ally Pally Board agreed to a more realistic and ‘organic’ approach towards development at the Palace, rather than through one developer. The Liberal Democrats hope that the important decision now draws [...] read on
Liberal Democrats urge Alexandra Palace to be considered as new Olympic venue
After efforts failed this week to move the Olympic boxing events from East London to Wembley, local Liberal Democrats are urging Olympic organisers, the Mayor of London and local councillors to consider Alexandra Palace as a possible alternative venue for boxing, badminton or rhythmic gymnastics. Liberal Democrats believe moving an Olympic venue to Alexandra Palace, [...] read on
What’s going on at Alexandra Palace?
Here’s my latest column for the Highgate Handbook and Muswell Hill Flyer: Beautiful building, fantastic location – but a financial nightmare. That’s been the history of Alexandra Palace over the last few decades as one bungle after another has seen tens of millions of pounds wasted – with the bill for clearing these losses landed [...] read on
Links
- 'The birthplace of television'
From the BBC website’s history section - Alexandra Palace
- SaveAllyPally.com
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