Camden News: Town Hall | Judd Street | King's Cross | Refit

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Camden News - by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 27 November 2008

Town Hall draws up £500,000 plans for headquarters refit

WITH no spare cash for a loft extension this year, homeowners feeling the pinch in the poor economic conditions might be thinking of putting off home improvements for another year.
But the financial gloom does not appear to have had the same effect on council chiefs who are mulling over a sparkling £500,000 refit of their Town Hall headquarters in Judd Street, King’s Cross.
The New Journal that the council has drawn up a shopping list which includes £180,000 on new seats and upholstery in the main council chamber, £14,000 on new carpets and £25,000 for blackout blinds on the windows in the ceiling. A new IT system for the chamber complete with new microphones, hi-tech LCD displays and computerised voting is also on the wants list – despite a £155,000 price tag.
The complete job comes in at £530,000, although a decision on whether to go-ahead with the improvements has yet to be reached.
Camden has, however, already barred any bookings for the main chamber throughout August 2009 when work is due to take place.
The council has already spent £11.5 million on refurbishing their housing offices in nearby Bidborough House. A more expensive refit for the council chamber has been abandoned amid concerns the changes to the listed rooms would not be supported by English Heritage.
Labour councillor Jonathan Simpson said: “Given the current economic situation, these plans do seem extravagant.”

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