In common with most people in Finchley, I was greatly upset by the news that the Finchley Arts Centre Trust (FACT) has decided to wind up its operations.

We have seen its outstanding work at the Bothy over the last decade.

They restored the wonderful walled garden, produced an exciting summer season of music and drama, and went a long way to reviving the ruined Bothy itself in a most imaginative and successful fashion, providing an artistic community resource for the people of Finchley.

I was particularly pleased at the special recognition they received from Government for the way in which they made use of Community Service Volunteers in this task.

That the demise of FACT is the direct result of actions by Avenue House Estate Trust makes it an even more difficult loss to accept.

It is most regrettable that Barnet Council did not see its way to ensure the position of FACT, to whom the Council had given the original lease, was protected from the unreasonable behaviour of AHET.

I fully understand the decision by FACT that there is no way in which they can work with the current Avenue House board.

In view of AHET's determination to stop FACT operating in the Bothy, their subsequent refusal to negotiate and their baseless campaign against the FACT trustees, it is clear that the goodwill and co-operation between the two charities required for successful operation of the Bothy is impossible.

It is an added tragedy that the dispute came at a time when FACT had secured one permanent let and were in negotiations with the Hampstead School of Art on a deal which would have assured the completion of the full Bothy project and its successful artistic operation as envisaged by FACT.

It can hardly be a coincidence that AHET's attack came just as FACT were on the point of completing the building and securing their future. What was the point of displacing a charity offering such outstanding promise at the point when it was within reach of its goal?

The unelected principals of AHET should not be allowed to continue with their actions and the decent people of Barnet should be supported in their views about the future of the Bothy, keeping it out of the control of those who run AHET, who are none of them representative of anyone but themselves.