A once popular town hall green has "shrunk", and a former user has questioned why it is still fenced off after redevelopment work.

But developer the Far East Consortium (FEC), which is restoring Hornsey Town Hall into a boutique hotel with community arts spaces, insists the green is "almost identical" in area.

A total of 146 flats have already been built on the town hall's former car park - some already occupied - but the green remains inaccessible to the public.

Malcolm Richards, who lives in Stroud Green, believes the parkland in front of the hall has "shrunk" by a third, if not more.

He said: "As the summer passed the public weren't allowed on it and it looks like the best part of this year is going to pass too.

"I've spoken to my MP about it and nothing has happened."

The 78-year-old, who has lived in the area since the 1970s, used the park "sometimes five times a week, sometimes every day".

He added: "It's nice in the summer. It was used copiously. There were always mothers and children there around midday in the school holidays and after school. It was very popular. People would sit there in their lunch hour with their sandwiches or whatever, something from Greggs or Dunn's the bakers." 

Ham & High:

The town hall will reopen in late summer as a hotel and arts centre.

Haringey Council ordered FEC to rip up granite paving stones in 2021 after it did not use the York stone slabs originally specified.

A spokesperson for FEC could not give a timeline but denied the space has shrunk.

They said: “In line with the wider restoration of the Town Hall, the square will be rejuvenated to celebrate original features such as the distinctive fountain. 

"The central green space is still home to the existing shady mature trees and lawn garden, it will feature new landscaping, increased seating along with creating greater accessibility to the Town Hall.

"The green is being created as planned and will be almost identical in area to the previous green and inspired by Reginald Uren’s original design.  

"The space will be open once the relevant planning conditions have been discharged.”