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Tenants
to lobby Parliament over investment for homes
TENANTS are hoping to make a breakthrough in their fight
for investment in Camden’s council homes with a lobby of
Parliament on Wednesday.
As the battle to convince ministers to release the millions
of pounds needed to bring the borough’s housing stock up
to decent standards entered its third year, campaigners will
join up with tenants from other affected areas of the country
at Westminster.
The government has rigidly refused to fund desperately-needed
improvements to homes since residents voted against transferring
control of their homes to a new independent company known as
an Arms-Length Management Organisation (Almo). The proposal
was widely regarded by tenants as a shift towards privatisation.
Camden MPs Frank Dobson, a long-term critic of the government’s
funding policy, and Glenda Jackson will meet tenants to hear
their concerns. It is estimated that Camden is short of £283
million to bring all homes up to scratch.
Lesley Carty, a campaigner for Camden Defend Council Housing,
said all residents should turn up to show their support for
the lobby. She said: “Let’s make sure Camden tenants
are represented in force.”
Housing ministers Yvette Cooper and David Miliband are key targets
in the campaign.
In a briefing with the New Journal, Camden’s housing chief
Councillor Julian Fulbrook said that the fight for investment
would go on.
He said: “Yvette Cooper has said in meetings with us that
she recognises the position that Camden is in, that we are in
a unique position. We need to see what she means by that and
what we can do.”
The lobby is at Central Hall, Westminster, from 12pm to 4pm
on Wednesday. Mr Dobson and Ms Jackson will be meeting tenants
from Camden between 3pm and 4pm. |
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