A group managing a community centre was evicted by police as a dispute over the future of the centre went on.

Haringey Borough Council removed Chestnuts Community Centre's current management on Wednesday with the help of police in the latest stage of a long-running dispute over future running of the centre, in St Ann's Road, Harringay.

The management refused to hand over the keys to the council despite a court ruling at the end of December.

Although the keys were handed over without any resistance, user group Chestnuts People is disappointed with the way the council is handling the transition.

The group has previously raised concerns that the council plans to put the running of the centre out to tender rather than allowing it to remain under community control.

Gus Alston, a member of Chestnuts People, said: “This was a very heavy-handed and over the top approach. The current management has offered to hand over running of the centre voluntarily on a number of occasions.

“We have attempted to engage the council in dialogue about a smooth transition to new management but they have consistently ignored us.

“The council has now closed the centre until February 2, causing disruption to a large number of people who use the centre.

“Clearly, not including us in the conversation is just stupid.”

The council has appointed South Tottenham charity The Bridge Renewal Trust as interim managers for a period of one year.

It cites rent arrears, noise complaints and poor maintenance as reasons for the removal of the current management.

A statement from the council said: “Unfortunately, following poor maintenance leaving the building with an £80,000 repair bill, rent arrears of nearly £50,000 and persistent noise complaints from local residents, we were left with no choice but to terminate the lease of the current management committee at the end of last year.

“We were very disappointed that following a judge ruling the committee should return the keys, they refused to comply with the court ruling, leaving us with no option but to collect the keys in person.

“The groups that regularly use the centre are at the centre of our ambitions, and we look forward to working directly with them to bring improvements that support their clubs, activities and meetings.”

The centre will be closed until Monday February 2 and the council say they have written to everybody affected to notify them and minimise disruption.