PEOPLE’S PLAN FOR CRESSINGHAM CHALLENGES LAMBETH’S “LAZY THINKING”
In a preamble to the report the people of Cressingham have posted the following:
A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO DEMOLITION
Up to 37 homes at council rent levels
Contributes to council’s 1,000 homes pledge
Support network retained
No community displacement
Financially more cost effective
In 2012 Lambeth Cllr, Lib Peck, announced to the people of Cressingham Gardens that their beloved estate was to be included in their regeneration programme. She said:
“I want to reassure people that we are not interested in doing anything to the estate that doesn’t command the confidence and support of its residents.
“We want to work with residents to realise the best for the estate and believe this is an excellent opportunity for people living on the estate to work with us to improve it.”
Of course, over the next three years we made it clear to Lambeth council that we wanted our estate to be repaired rather than demolished but our wishes were dismissed on the grounds that any proposal involving repairs would be “unaffordable”.
We challenged them to prove it but instead they moved the goalposts and focused instead on the borough’s need for additional homes.
We brought a Judicial Review. We won. They were forced to re-consult, reviewing again all options, including repairing the estate.
BOLD
On March 21st, Lambeth Council will again decide the fate of Cressingham Gardens. We remember Cllr Peck’s promise of 2012 and the council’s casual dismissal of the residents’ wishes.
The ‘People’s Plan’ has been devised to challenge Lambeth’s lazy thinking and propose instead a way forward that respects our wishes, honours Cllr Peck’s promise, addresses Lambeth’s financial concerns, provides additional housing and keeps us in the homes that we love.
This version was handed in to the council on March 4th, but is still a developing document and the authors welcome ongoing input from residents and the wider community.
