Passmores House sale row continues (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Passmores House sale row continues

11:57am Wednesday 6th August 2003

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A ROW has erupted after it emerged Passmores House could be back on the market.

The historic house has been earmarked for disposal and Harlow Council's resources committee chairman Simon Carter, told the Citizen they had 'reached a conclusion' over the property's future.

This has caused ructions among campaigners trying to save the house, who maintain Mr Carter promised a full consultation before any decision was made.

The house has been marked for disposal since 1999, but the problem comes after an answer given by Mr Carter to a question at a resource committee meeting on July 3.

Maureen Topley, from the Friends of Passmores House, asked if the sale would be cancelled if they found a funder willing to bring it back up to a useable standard. Mr Carter answered 'yes'.

An agreement was then made to 'meet with and consider the views' of Harlow Civic Society and the Friends group before any decision was made. This has not yet happened.

However after another meeting on July 30 and discussions behind closed doors Mr Carter (Conservative) now says a conclusion has been reached.

Labour leader Kevin Brooks said: "The council has now decided to sell the house even before the public consultation has taken place. This contravenes a promise by Simon Carter to the local residents on July 3 that the sale would be cancelled if they could find an alternative user."

Mr Carter, who has been called on to resign over the matter, said: "It has been earmarked for disposal in so much as it is surplus to requirements but disposal covers a number of possibilities.

"We've reached a conclusion and we want to talk to Harlow Civic Society and the Friends of Passmores House before we go any further. We will be explaining what our position is. Nothing will happen until this has taken place."

Since the July 3 meeting the Friends group has been trying to find a possible funder.

Mrs Topley said: "Simon Carter gave us an unequivocal 'yes' in reply to our question and promised us a public consultation before any sale took place. We understood this to be binding."

Asked to respond to allegations that he had misled campaigners, Mr Carter said: " I don't understand where they're coming from. We said on July 3 the property is to be advertised with the best bid to be sought that meets with the council's objectives whilst maintaining the property in line with heritage requirements. They're trying to invent words and meanings which did not occur."

Mr Brooks is also seeking assurances over the future of the house's grounds and commitments to maintain them.

The Friends of Passmores House are to lobby councillors at meeting at the Latton Bush Centre from 7.30pm on Thursday, August 7.

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