West End Letters: Drop in the ocean | James Quinn | arms-length | housing | empty homes

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 08 May 2009

A drop in the ocean!

• IF 10,000 people in Westminster City Council are waiting for housing/ rehousing, 300 empty homes are a drop in the ocean.
They are probably sub-standard and will have to be brought up to Decent Home standards by next year.
It would appear Westminster have pumped millions into upgrading existing stock over the last 20 years.
As for the tryst going on between the city council and their arms-length management organisation, CityWest Homes, no one in the agencies can decide who is in charge of housing policy and two resignations of chiefs in quick succession could be one reason for the problem.
And, of course this tremendous demand for housing. I think the ball is in the government’s court and Karen Buck MP (Regent’s Park and Kensington North) should consult with the housing minister Margaret Beckett for extra powers to overrule local government policies that encourage voiding of properties.
James Quinn
ex-Church Street resident, Address supplied

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
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Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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