Lambeth LibDems declare themselves furious over the collapse of the Streatham Space Project

In August 2024 Cllr Donna Harris, Leader of the Opposition Liberal Democrats on Lambeth Council, wrote an Open Letter to Labour’s cabinet member for Stronger Communities, Cllr Donatus Anyanwu, raising concerns over Streatham Space Project’s financial problems.

There has been no reply. Now the last performing arts venue in Streatham has closed its doors.

Streatham Space Project, the last remaining performing arts venue in Streatham and the south of the borough, announced on 13 March 2025 that it was closing.

Last summer, when it scaled back its operations, Cllr Donna Harris wrote to Labour’s Cllr Anyanwu asking what the Council was doing to help.

She asked if he had met Streatham Space Project management to discuss options, such as assistance from the Community Infrastructure Levy, money that the Council recovers from developers to help community assets.

Cllr Harris is still waiting for an answer from Labour.

“As Ward Councillors, my colleague Cllr Matthew Bryant and I should have been respected and provided with information regarding the Streatham Space Project, rather than being ignored.

Just because the current stakeholder has failed, the venue should not close – lessons must be learned.”

“This venue was funded by developers for the community, and it should remain that way, not be sold off for profit.

The Streatham Space Project must not be lost; we need a community asset like this in the south of the borough.”