Merlene Emerson says thousands face losing homes
The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokeswoman for Hammersmith, Merlene Emerson, responds to the Council's Local Development Framework consultation:
Dear Editor
Thousands face losing homes in H&F Borough
H&F Council is currently consulting on their Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy Options which repeatedly refer to a need for ‘decent neighbourhoods’. Neighbourhoods that are not ‘decent’ have been identified throughout the borough.
If these neighbourhoods contained homes which do not meet national ‘decent homes standards’ then the Council and H&F Homes should be working to bring them up to standard. Where the neighbourhoods have residents who are jobless and on benefits, then the Council has a duty to provide training and improved skills.
The Council has, however, shown a preference for the easy fix by proposing the rebuilding of properties primarily for sale. The only assurance they provide existing residents is that the equivalent number of ‘habitable rooms’ (not number of units) for social renting will be preserved, and this over the next 20 years!
There are two conclusions that we can draw from this. First, many local residents will be without a home in H&F in years to come and will be likely to have to seek housing outside of the borough. Second, the Tory Council seems to be focused on changing the demographics of their voters in this marginal Constituency.
The local Liberal Democrats have called on our colleagues in the London Assembly to pressure the Mayor to ensure delivery of real affordable housing in the borough. Mayor Boris Johnson has yet to fulfil his pre-election pledge to build at least 50,000 new affordable homes. A proportionate number has to be in Hammersmith & Fulham to meet our local needs.
Unless of course the Mayor is complicit with the Council (and possibly the Tory leadership, as has been suggested in some quarters) in a purge of the poor as happened in Westminster.
It is time for some honest answers and clarity on the Council’s real agenda. Is the Borough of Opportunities ‘Building Stable Communities’ by another name?
Merlene Emerson
Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokeswoman for Hammersmith
15 July 2009
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