From Brent Housing Action
DEMONSTRATION:
Tomorrow, Monday 11th August, marks the due date for the first tranche of households to leave the Barham Park Estate under the premature Notice to Quit orders issued by Brent Community Housing (BCH).
It also marks the two week anniversary of the initial meeting between Senior Council Officers and BCH to negotiate an extension of the tenancies for the 42 affected households which would comply with the Council’s regeneration plans.
DEMONSTRATION:
The
Grange, Neasden Lane, NW10 1QB between 5pm and 6:15pm
Monday 11th
August 2014
It also marks the two week anniversary of the initial meeting between Senior Council Officers and BCH to negotiate an extension of the tenancies for the 42 affected households which would comply with the Council’s regeneration plans.
 |
| Phase 2c of the Barham Park Estate regeneration last week. This is where the remaining council tenants are due to move in “early 2015″ prior to demolition of remaining properties. |
In an
email to a resident dated 4th August, Cllr Margaret McLennan, Lead
for Housing and Regeneration said:
As previously stated, our senior Officers are in discussion with BCH. They know the Members view on this and have stated our grave concerns at their unilateral action. Nothing will happen while we are in discussion or beyond this. I promised I would update you once I had firm confirmation, and I shall.
This
is a very positive statement, and the residents of Barham Park gratefully
acknowledge the efforts Cllr McLennan has put into resolving the situation.
Regrettably
it does not allay the concerns of those who are due to move out: they have two
primary issues:
1) That if they DO
move out on the NTQ due date (s) they become “intentionally homeless”, and will
lose any potential assistance from Brent’s Housing Options Team to find
alternate accommodation;
2) If they DO NOT move out, and so engage
in the legal eviction process to give them access to assistance from the
Borough, under their current contracts BCH have no obligation to rehouse them.
The
tenants have therefore sought clarification, asking if the NTQs have been
suspended pending the outcome of the negotiations, and requesting
“non-prejudicial” access to rehousing via BCH in this instance. This last point
is particularly contentious as some of those involved in organising, and merely
signing, the earlier petitions have reputedly been verbally informed they will
not be rehoused.
In fact to date none of the affected 42 households has been offered alternative accommodation.
In fact to date none of the affected 42 households has been offered alternative accommodation.
It
has been decided therefore to call a demonstration outside the BCH Offices to
show the level of solidarity between the affected tenants, their neighbours and
supporters with the intention of getting BCH to re-examine their current
stance.
The demo will take
place outside The Grange, Neasden Lane, NW10 1QB between 5pm and 6:15pm on
Monday 11th August 2014. The Grange is located on the central
roundabout at the top of Dudden Hill Lane and Neasden Lane (google maps shows
the wrong building!). Nearest tube is Neasden on the Jubilee Line, a three
minute walk away, and all bus routes through Neasden Junction stop nearby (182,
297).
Please
do try to attend, but if you can’t you may wish to contact BCH with your
thoughts by calling 020 7624 3168 or emailing info@bchcoopha
I don't know the history of Brent 'Community' Housing (BCH) but its name sounds like an oxymoron - how can a 'community' organisation issue NTQs without first having made civilised alternative arrangements for and with those who'll lose their present homes? This seems like another example of a 'voluntary' organisation joining the ranks of the petit-bourgeois establishment. Does BCH receive council funding?
ReplyDeleteI'll always be haunted by the memory of being given a flat on the old Chalk hill Estate which was infested With cockroaches and very run down and neglected.
DeleteI felt Hurt and considered it as a Insult That Any Council Let alone Brent Council Would expect Human beings to pay rent to live in such appalling Conditions.
and so It does not surprise me to know that the council are showing their True colors once again
which results in Lots of Hurt feelings and Lots of Stress for those affected.
Also when I see that Word Regeneration I Can't help but feel even more sympathy for the people being forced out of the Estate.
I Tell you Honestly
Bees Make better homes for themselves Than Humans.
Regeneration Plans?
ReplyDeleteHaven't most of Us suffered enough to Be able to see through The Talk of Regeneration?
The Old Chalk Hill Estate Which was Run by Brent Council was a Haven of Torment and the Estate which Replaced It Is Chalk Hill Estate Part Two but on a smaller Scale.
These Estates are nothing but Havens of Torment.
Sleeping at night is near impossible because someone always starts banging and Knocking and Dragging chairs etc etc
and because the sound proofing materials are always inadequate
That makes it easier to be disturbed and then the tension and frustration starts to grow.
That was Just one of the many reasons That made The former Chalk hill Estate a Haven of Torment.
Whatever Is Built in place of Barham park Estate Will Inevitably Be a new haven of Torment For the people that will Live there.
It's always the same no matter what the Council Says.
Enough Time has passed and many of us Have suffered more than enough To allow ourselves to be deceived once again by the use of Words Like Regeneration.
remember back in 1997 when the Labour Party came in singing and dancing and promising us that things could only get Better?
Look around for Evidence to back up those Empty Promises?
You'll be searching in Vain.