Thursday, July 09, 2009
What a stink!
What's going on at Hammersmith town hall? As soon as you walk into the foyer, you are hit by the most terrible smell. Work to refurbish the foyer seems to have been going on for months, so goodness knows how much it's costing. But still the smell lingers...
Tories' gerrymandering plans exposed
On the day that H&F Tories are celebrating the council's so-called achievements, the Evening Standard has exposed Conservative plans for 'social cleansing' Hammersmith & Fulham:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23717484-details/Plot+to+rid+council+estates+of+poor/article.do
H&F council has recently announced plans to demolish 3,500 homes on estates they have declared “not decent neighbourhoods”.
Secret documents obtained through an FoI request reveal that the Conservative leader of the council, Stephen Greenhalgh, told senior Conservative Party officials that council estates are “ghettos”. The people who live there “add to the welfare cost of Government” and “have fallen into a cycle of unemployment and dependency”. “We (the taxpayer)” get “no return”. “What is needed” is “a solution to concentrations of deprivation”.
The documents reveal that the council gathered together a secret group of people to discuss this. Someone asked: “What is a ‘Poor person’?” Someone else said Fulham Court “is not a place, it is a barrack for the poor”. Yet another suggested the 2,000 strong White City estate was “an ideal place to develop and deliver a ‘master plan’”. And someone else said it was “hard to get rid of people”.
Participants acknowledged: "'Porteresque' accusations of gerrymandering or social engineering needed to be faced head on." Hence, “funding needed for political problem of management”, and “regeneration should not be stymied by a very few who object on spurious or ideological grounds”.
The “message” is “ownership empowers”, and “the Sacred Cows need to be shot!”. “We need to create mixed communities in concentrated areas of deprivation.”
Now, the Council has developed its “bulldozer argument” for its planning strategy - branding seven council estates containing 3,500 homes “not decent neighbourhoods”.
Using the language of social cleansing, and with no respect for age, vulnerability or human rights, the Tories propose to destroy communities on estates in Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham. The sites will be used mainly for commercial development like hotels and conference centres. There would be a reduction of social rented homes by up to a third, and new housing for sale would be unaffordable to local residents.
In the meantime, all but health and safety repairs to the properties would cease and flats would be let on a temporary basis. Whole neighbourhoods are now blighted, with freeholders and leaseholders unable to sell, even though demolition could be years away. For the remaining social tenants in the borough – almost 40% of the population – there would be no prospect of re-housing for 20 years as the displaced residents took the few homes that become available.
But the targeted estates are places that all types of people wish to live – from pensioners and young families to first-time buyers and professionals. Many millions of pounds of public money have been spent on them under the Decent Homes programme. There is no need to destroy these communities. Residents are naturally furious at the proposals and don’t want to be forced into smaller homes at higher rents.
This is social engineering on a grand scale, and it is being recommended to the national Conservative Party hierarchy as the way forward in housing: no security, high rents, no duty to house the homeless, not even right to buy.
The secret council documents suggest H&F council’s policy to destroy communities they brand “not decent” may be unlawful, as well as immoral. Council officers are writing Tory party policy using council taxpayers' money. But, far worse, poor and vulnerable people in H&F are being used as guinea pigs in a dishonest and destructive socio-political experiment.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23717484-details/Plot+to+rid+council+estates+of+poor/article.do
H&F council has recently announced plans to demolish 3,500 homes on estates they have declared “not decent neighbourhoods”.
Secret documents obtained through an FoI request reveal that the Conservative leader of the council, Stephen Greenhalgh, told senior Conservative Party officials that council estates are “ghettos”. The people who live there “add to the welfare cost of Government” and “have fallen into a cycle of unemployment and dependency”. “We (the taxpayer)” get “no return”. “What is needed” is “a solution to concentrations of deprivation”.
The documents reveal that the council gathered together a secret group of people to discuss this. Someone asked: “What is a ‘Poor person’?” Someone else said Fulham Court “is not a place, it is a barrack for the poor”. Yet another suggested the 2,000 strong White City estate was “an ideal place to develop and deliver a ‘master plan’”. And someone else said it was “hard to get rid of people”.
Participants acknowledged: "'Porteresque' accusations of gerrymandering or social engineering needed to be faced head on." Hence, “funding needed for political problem of management”, and “regeneration should not be stymied by a very few who object on spurious or ideological grounds”.
The “message” is “ownership empowers”, and “the Sacred Cows need to be shot!”. “We need to create mixed communities in concentrated areas of deprivation.”
Now, the Council has developed its “bulldozer argument” for its planning strategy - branding seven council estates containing 3,500 homes “not decent neighbourhoods”.
Using the language of social cleansing, and with no respect for age, vulnerability or human rights, the Tories propose to destroy communities on estates in Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham. The sites will be used mainly for commercial development like hotels and conference centres. There would be a reduction of social rented homes by up to a third, and new housing for sale would be unaffordable to local residents.
In the meantime, all but health and safety repairs to the properties would cease and flats would be let on a temporary basis. Whole neighbourhoods are now blighted, with freeholders and leaseholders unable to sell, even though demolition could be years away. For the remaining social tenants in the borough – almost 40% of the population – there would be no prospect of re-housing for 20 years as the displaced residents took the few homes that become available.
But the targeted estates are places that all types of people wish to live – from pensioners and young families to first-time buyers and professionals. Many millions of pounds of public money have been spent on them under the Decent Homes programme. There is no need to destroy these communities. Residents are naturally furious at the proposals and don’t want to be forced into smaller homes at higher rents.
This is social engineering on a grand scale, and it is being recommended to the national Conservative Party hierarchy as the way forward in housing: no security, high rents, no duty to house the homeless, not even right to buy.
The secret council documents suggest H&F council’s policy to destroy communities they brand “not decent” may be unlawful, as well as immoral. Council officers are writing Tory party policy using council taxpayers' money. But, far worse, poor and vulnerable people in H&F are being used as guinea pigs in a dishonest and destructive socio-political experiment.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
H&F today, Cameron's nightmare tomorrow?
Anyone in any doubt about what a Tory government under David Cameron would do should take a look at what has happened in H&F under the Tory council since 2006.
Take five examples of the nasty party in action:
1) huge cuts in spending and local services - £61 million already cut from the council's budget with more to come, hitting services for older and disabled people and schools and childcare; all the council's staff served with redundancy notices to cut their terms and conditions
2) a Tory tax con - cuts in council tax (amounting to less than 50p a week) are more than made up for by the huge hikes in fees and charges for local services, all part of a secret budget only revealed after the Tories were elected
3) gerrymandering - secret plans to knock down social housing and sell large estates for redevelopment with local people moved out of the borough and priced out of the borough
4) dirtier streets - H&F streets are filthy as flytipping increases following the cuts in street cleaning and refuse services plus new charges for collection of bulk items
5) public assets sold off - valuable community buildings housing local voluntary organisations and facilities for young and old people have been sold off, never to be used again by the local community
H&F council is hailed as an exemplar by David Cameron. Be careful what you wish for.
Take five examples of the nasty party in action:
1) huge cuts in spending and local services - £61 million already cut from the council's budget with more to come, hitting services for older and disabled people and schools and childcare; all the council's staff served with redundancy notices to cut their terms and conditions
2) a Tory tax con - cuts in council tax (amounting to less than 50p a week) are more than made up for by the huge hikes in fees and charges for local services, all part of a secret budget only revealed after the Tories were elected
3) gerrymandering - secret plans to knock down social housing and sell large estates for redevelopment with local people moved out of the borough and priced out of the borough
4) dirtier streets - H&F streets are filthy as flytipping increases following the cuts in street cleaning and refuse services plus new charges for collection of bulk items
5) public assets sold off - valuable community buildings housing local voluntary organisations and facilities for young and old people have been sold off, never to be used again by the local community
H&F council is hailed as an exemplar by David Cameron. Be careful what you wish for.
Another Tory con
Residents of Lakeside and Netherwood Roads in Addison ward are fed up with Tory H&F council's new parking restrictions.
Residents' only parking on Saturday and Sunday was introduced earlier this year after concerns about the overspill from the Westfield shopping centre.
But now Westfield has introduced free parking, local residents have been left with restricted parking at weekends, when their friends and family want to visit them. Visitors have to fork out huge amounts to H&F council just to come and see people living in these streets.
Residents' only parking on Saturday and Sunday was introduced earlier this year after concerns about the overspill from the Westfield shopping centre.
But now Westfield has introduced free parking, local residents have been left with restricted parking at weekends, when their friends and family want to visit them. Visitors have to fork out huge amounts to H&F council just to come and see people living in these streets.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Selling off the community silver
A former community centre building has been sold off by Tory H&F Council for almost three quarters of a million pounds. The property, at 59 Godolphin Road and formerly home to The Hut Association, was sold by auction this week for £735,000.
The Hut Association is a registered charity providing social, educational and recreational facilities and services to the local community - activities such as parent and toddler groups, parent support groups, Saturday schools, senior citizens' social and lunch club, outings, family day trips, fun days and festivals.
Two years ago, community groups campaigned to save The Hut and other borough resources such as the South Lodge of Margravine Cemetery in Hammersmith, the Castle Club in Broomhouse Lane, Fulham and Wormholt Community Centre, all of which were slated to be sold off by the council as part of cost-cutting measures.
However, The Hut closed down last year and the building has been boarded up for several months. The Tory council has already reduced its workforce by 18% and sold off several buildings.
The Hut Association is a registered charity providing social, educational and recreational facilities and services to the local community - activities such as parent and toddler groups, parent support groups, Saturday schools, senior citizens' social and lunch club, outings, family day trips, fun days and festivals.
Two years ago, community groups campaigned to save The Hut and other borough resources such as the South Lodge of Margravine Cemetery in Hammersmith, the Castle Club in Broomhouse Lane, Fulham and Wormholt Community Centre, all of which were slated to be sold off by the council as part of cost-cutting measures.
However, The Hut closed down last year and the building has been boarded up for several months. The Tory council has already reduced its workforce by 18% and sold off several buildings.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tories abuse power (again)
He wasn't on the agenda for the AGM of the Cathnor Park Area Action Group on Monday this week, but at the start of the meeting up stood Tory H&F council leader Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh. He proceeded to speak for some 20 minutes on issues like the so-called 'super sewer' and the third runway which also were not on the agenda.
The local ward councillors were only notified of the meeting on Monday afternoon. And they have not been consulted by the council about proposed developments to Cathnor Park which were announced at the meeting.
Perhaps it's not surprising therefore that the secretary of the Cathnor Park Area Action Group will be a local Tory candidate in next year's council elections. Will she now stand down from this residents' group?
The local ward councillors were only notified of the meeting on Monday afternoon. And they have not been consulted by the council about proposed developments to Cathnor Park which were announced at the meeting.
Perhaps it's not surprising therefore that the secretary of the Cathnor Park Area Action Group will be a local Tory candidate in next year's council elections. Will she now stand down from this residents' group?
Another victory for Avonmore residents
The controversial West Kensington nightclub, The Crescent, – where a man was stabbed to death outside its entrance last week – has been refused a longer license.
Local residents are angry that The Crescent – which was initially intended to be a lap dancing club – has been causing a rise in anti-social behaviour and disturbance in the area.
The club had applied to vary its hours so that it could stay open for an extra three hours until 5am from Thursday to Saturday, until 3am on all other weeknights and until 2am on Sundays. Hundreds of local residents objected to the changes.
Residents who spoke at the council hearing this week said that the club had brought drug dealing back to the area, and that it often broke its licensing conditions by allowing customers into the bar after midnight, when there is a no re-admittance policy. Others said customers frequently fought in the street, and vomited and urinated on their doorsteps and in their gardens.
The council’s environmental health department has received 20 complaints since the opening of the club in November last year, relating to noise coming from the club or patrons leaving the premises.
On Tuesday the council's licensing committee turned down the request for longer opening hours. Another victory for local residents in Avonmore.
Local residents are angry that The Crescent – which was initially intended to be a lap dancing club – has been causing a rise in anti-social behaviour and disturbance in the area.
The club had applied to vary its hours so that it could stay open for an extra three hours until 5am from Thursday to Saturday, until 3am on all other weeknights and until 2am on Sundays. Hundreds of local residents objected to the changes.
Residents who spoke at the council hearing this week said that the club had brought drug dealing back to the area, and that it often broke its licensing conditions by allowing customers into the bar after midnight, when there is a no re-admittance policy. Others said customers frequently fought in the street, and vomited and urinated on their doorsteps and in their gardens.
The council’s environmental health department has received 20 complaints since the opening of the club in November last year, relating to noise coming from the club or patrons leaving the premises.
On Tuesday the council's licensing committee turned down the request for longer opening hours. Another victory for local residents in Avonmore.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Have you been invited?
In celebration of H&F council’s major achievements, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, Tory Leader of the Council, invites you to a reception on 9 July 2009 at (DETAILS BLANKED OUT TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT!) to thank you for your contribution.
What achievements? What contribution? What a way to spend council taxpayers' money!
What achievements? What contribution? What a way to spend council taxpayers' money!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sign up or else!
H&F council staff have been given until 22 June (yes, next Monday) to accept new terms and conditions of service (see previous hfconwatch reports).
Almost half the Tory council's staff have yet to sign their acceptance and have been warned that the council will serve 'notice of termination' by 30 June to any staff who don't sign by 22 June.
It therefore looks like the council will be sending out redundancy notices to thousands of its staff in the next fortnight.
Almost half the Tory council's staff have yet to sign their acceptance and have been warned that the council will serve 'notice of termination' by 30 June to any staff who don't sign by 22 June.
It therefore looks like the council will be sending out redundancy notices to thousands of its staff in the next fortnight.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Watch Cllr Greenhalgh squirm
http://www.labourhome.org/forum/?p=5863
Watch this video of Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, the Tory leader of H&F Council, as he squirms under close questioning from local residents about his secret plans to knock down their homes.
Send hfconwatch news about the Tory plans to redevelop estates in H&F: hfconwatch@hotmail.co.uk
Watch this video of Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, the Tory leader of H&F Council, as he squirms under close questioning from local residents about his secret plans to knock down their homes.
Send hfconwatch news about the Tory plans to redevelop estates in H&F: hfconwatch@hotmail.co.uk
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