GREEN PARTY SLAM DELAYS OVER CENTRAL HILL DEMOLITION DECISION – AS SOUTHWARK GET GO-AHEAD TO APPEAL AYLESBURY ESTATE JUDGMENT
Lambeth council’s cabinet postponed a decision on demolishing Central Hill for the ELEVENTH time, say the borough’s Green party.
The postponement – reported by News From Crystal Palace last Monday – came before Southwark council won the right to appeal a High Court judgment which could potentially wreck Lambeth’s plans to demolish six estates in prime locations across the borough.
And since the Green party issued their statement Lambeth have announced they are postponing their decision on Central Hill yet again – this time to March!
In their statement the Green party say: “The cabinet still insists that demolition is the only solution, when refurbishment as an option is clearly a smarter, more economical choice, and is in line with the wishes of the vast majority of residents on the estate.
“It is clear that Lambeth Council are taking stock, in the face of huge public opposition to their proposals which ride roughshod over the residents in the estate.
“Residents at other estates such as Cressingham Gardens in Tulse Hill are also resolute in their opposition to what the Labour-run council is doing and have vowed to continue fighting.
“The residents of the Aylesbury estate, who seemed to be nearly out on their feet have had two massive wins; first, when Sajid Javid refused to allow the compulsory purchase of homes on their estate.
“Then again, in December, when Southwark council’s judicial review application over Compulsory Purchase Orders was initially refused.
“So now, Lambeth cabinet are delaying their decision. “Over this winter alone so far, the decision dates were moved to the 12th Dec 2016, then to the 16th Jan 2017 and now once again to the 6th Feb 2017.
“The excuse for the December delay was that they had to read through 300 surveys that they had paid The Campaign Company to produce.
“In the meantime, there are footpaths on the estate in need of repair, but which are being ignored.
“The council can send leaf blowers and hedge trimmers to the estate while ignoring essential health and safety repairs.
“The cabinet have been very lax and cavalier in keeping residents up to date with developments putting more pressure on the community who deserve at the very least to know where they stand.
“Lambeth and the people of Central Hill deserve better.”