David Winskill on the Hornsey Town Hall arts centre

The 146 flats have sold well, with about 20 remaining. The hotel is ready (although exactly what sort of hotel remains vague) and the hospitality spaces are waiting to be fitted out.

A decade ago, when the town hall was sold, upset Crouch End residents were promised a refurbished and restored building. Job done and hats off to Far East Consortium - they seem to have delivered a bang-up job and the Grade II*-listed building is now off the Historic England Heritage At Risk Register.

Now, they can further polish their reputation by delivering the long-promised Arts Centre.

If you visit the gushing Time+Space and the hthartscentre websites, mention of the centre is central to the project marketing.

Lots of hyperbole, promises and artists’ impressions of smiling punters roaming around the square, but The Assembly Hall and Supper Rooms haven’t yet been kitted out and there is no sniff of an artistic programme.

And, where’s the Community Use and Access Steering Group (hthartscentre.com/community-use-agreement/)?

Engagement with locals and arts providers should have taken place by now, but it’s not too late.

Along with the Crouch End Neighbourhood Forum, The Hornsey Town Hall Trust has been asking questions.

It seems that Haringey’s CEO Andy Donald and senior officers are trying to work out how to ensure the consortium deliver.

David Winskill says there are concerns about the arts centre and community spaces in the Hornsey Town Hall redevelopment (Image: Archant)

Andy won’t necessarily find that an easy task: when the disposal was negotiated, the imperative was to shift the town hall off the books with no residual liability. The sales agreement and planning conditions were desperately poorly defined.

This leaves Haringey with few big sticks to wave.

One might be Angela Rayner’s housing ambitions and her intention to ensure that planning obligations are rigorously enforced. The Far East Consortium will want a piece of the national house-building action and they might find it easier to partner with councils if they have a reputation for delivering promises

The Town Hall is a sub-regional cultural asset. Community memory, expertise and aspirations should be tapped into.

Haringey’s Borough of Culture gig is only a couple of years away: it would be a massive failure if Hornsey Town Hall was not central to showcasing this wonderful borough.

Let’s get an open, informed community conversation started.

Oh, and they haven’t painted the flagpole yet!

• David Winskill is a Crouch End campaigner.