Violin making students blast 'unhelpful' council for delay in finding new home

Kurt Marx, 85, has been attending the classes in Northwood for many years. Like many members he feels the council have been stringing the group along for recent months with no end product.

"Gradually it has become more and more difficult for us to continue.

"We have been told there are issues with finance, storage, health and safety, all sorts of idiotic excuses."

Mr Marx, who lives in Edgware and travels into Hillingdon for the classes, has already paid his £160 for this year after being told they would continue at the Harefield Academy, in Northwood Way, Harefield.

"They gave us all directions and around 20 of us had all paid up, and then the day before the first class we got a phone call from adult education saying the classes could not go ahead, and a month later we are still waiting.

"The adult education service has been very unhelpful to us, we are absolutely outraged.

"The classes really are amazing, I don't know of anywhere else in London that does it.

"You can build violins, cellos, professional instruments when you've finished.

"I've had my fiddle played by a very fine violinist and he was very impressed.

"People come to the classes from all over, Luton, St Albans, south London, those of us who get involved are very committed."

Jean Palmer, director of planning, environment and community services, said: "Unfortunately the location the council had previously arranged for the violin making classes is no longer available for us to use.

"We are currently looking to secure somewhere for these classes to take place and we will be in touch with students as soon as this issue is resolved."