ENFIELD Preservation Society and Enfield North MP Joan Ryan have blasted the council's decision to disband the Forty Hall Trust.

Both parties played integral parts in the four-year rescue battle for the Grade I listed building and have made public their fury at the new council leadership for taking the management in-house and "jeopardising its future".

And both the Enfield Preservation Society (EPS) and Labour MP Ms Ryan were angered that they only heard the news after the council released an official statement to the Independent on Monday.

EPS member Tony Langston said: "The EPS regrets the lost opportunities that the trust would have enabled.

"In particular the long-term future of the house remains subject to the whims of whatever administration is in power at the time.

"Funding issues will remain critical and, without the fundraising potential of a charitable trust, it means that intentions may not be translated into fact.

"The breaking of the link between the house and the voluntary sector is particularly unfortunate and is unlikely to be compensated for by any suggestions of partnership."

Mr Langston said that the Friends of Forty Hall volunteers will be withdrawn from duties at the building from August 11 and that many EPS members would not now work in partnership with the council.

Joan Ryan pulled no punches on hearing the trust had been axed.

She said: "I think it is a betrayal of trust, shortsighted, misguided and wrong.

"The trust was the best way forward and would have taken it out of the political arena.

"Not to have consulted EPS or me in any of the matter is arrogant and not acceptable. It is crass arrogance. We should be able to work together for the good of the community.

"I consider it a breach of trust and I will be watching the project very carefully, as will the people of Enfield."

Ms Ryan has a meeting scheduled with Cllr Rye in the next week.

Responding to the criticism, Cllr Rye said: "I had no option but to move forward with this. I am not personally trying to cut her out of it."

The trust has been operational for the past nine months and was due to assume formal control of the building in the autumn.

July 10, 2002 17:30