Sir: I hesitate to bore you with local minutiae, but
the response by Lord Monta- gu to my personal criticism of English Heritage is so spurious that, despite his assurances as to the future of Kenwood, his comments have to be tested — and he is the person to do that by answering a few questions.
As a frequent visitor to Kenwood and as a founder member and original council member of the Friends of Kenwood, it has been easy to observe outside of my profes- sional duties as editor of the Ham and High what hasn't been happening there. Any lack of information is due entirely to the secretive way in which English Heritage and other bureaucratic quangos operate. Why else are their headquarters named Fortress House?
Since he resorts to figures, perhaps Lord Montagu can tell us how much of the £656,407 spent on the three historic house museums in London actually went to Ken- wood and how much of that figure was contributed by outside bodies?
Can he also tell us, for example, on how many days since English Heritage took charge have some of the main rooms at Kenwood been closed to visitors because of lack of staff? Why the staffing level is still below that which operated before English Heritage arrived. Why the much loved café at Kenwood is now operated by a new company and is the subject of public complaint. And why he cannot agree about the future maintenance of the Kenwood acres with the Heath and Old Hampstead Society, despite the Government's promise of unified management with Hampstead Heath.
That will do for a start.
Gerald lsaarnan
9 Lyndhurst Road, London NW3
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