Residents on Southwark estate hoping to use meeting room as coronavirus information and food point told it will not open by council

Residents waiting to use a newly built meeting room on their estate to help them battle coronavirus have been told it will not open.

Residents on the Southampton Way estate in Southwark say they want to use the space as a focal point for coronavirus information, a place to donate and collect food, and a place for children to be looked after now that schools are closed.

Residents say the room is ready to use but Southwark council will not hand over the keys as it has not been signed off by building control.

The new meeting room was supposed to be open in October but a number of setbacks have delayed it, said residents.

Now they are concerned that a space they believe would be useful during the coronavirus crisis is going to waste.

“This is the time we need that space,” said Nick Flowers, Chairman of Southampton Way Tenants and Residents Association. “This is an emergency.

“We’ve asked the council to let us use the space and they won’t budge. Residents are trying to pull together in this difficult time and we’re being stymied by a council getting stuck in their own red tape.

“We need this space as a place to coordinate a response to the crisis. A focal point for residents to bring and distribute food donations and if schools close somewhere for kids to come and use babysitting clubs.

“The contractors told us the work is finished it just had to be signed off by building control but they now say there are some design problems even though they designed it.

“I’m annoyed and disappointed. The council don’t understand where we’re coming from. It’s just a question of one person speaking with someone else and getting the key.

“It’s the kind of thing you do in an emergency.”

Councillor Peter John, leader of Southwark Council, said: “While I appreciate and welcome the growing community response to Covid-19 we all need to make big changes to the way we live our lives to keep our communities safe.

“Residents should be doing all they can to distance themselves from their neighbours, and in many cases completely self-isolate.

“We are asking all TRAs to close halls and cancel existing bookings in order to follow the Government’s advice about social distancing and minimising non-essential contact.”