GMB support protest over 36 estates facing demolition
GMB Southern support November 3 protest at City Hall over exclusion of residents on 36 estates facing demolition from mayor's new ballots rules
GMB Southern Region is supporting a protest demonstration over the exclusion of the residents on 36 council estates in London facing demolition from recent new ballot rules required by London Mayor Sadiq Khan for such estates facing demolition.
Details of the protest are as follows:
Saturday 3 November
12 Noon
City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London
SE1 2AA
In July 2018 Sadiq Khan agreed that residents on estates threatened with demolition will have a ballot to find out whether they agree with "regeneration" or not.
However, he has denied 36 estates a ballot by signing off the finances. Now these estates, such as Cressingham Gardens, Ebury Bridge, the Aylesbury, plus many others, are demanding a ballot as well. Why is democracy good for the other estates but not for the 36? [See notes to editors below for list of the estates excluded]
The protest is organised by Homes for All, Save Cressingham, Radical Housing Network and Defend Council Housing. In the weeks after the rally, Cressingham Gardens, Ebury Bridge, Fenwick and Achilles are holding a daily vigil at City Hall demanding to meet Sadiq Khan. When they meet him, campaigners will demand a guaranteed ballot, with no conditions.
The organisers for the protest said in a joint statement: "There are 31,000 residents who will be affected by demolition on 118 estates in the next decade. Nearly 8,000 homes will definitely be lost, and the total could eventually be much greater.
"Meanwhile, homelessness is soaring. Families on Council housing waiting lists are giving up hope, and private renters are being ripped off unmercifully. This means that many people are being economically and socially cleansed from London altogether.
"Nothing less than a big land grab is going on all over London. This means the building of luxury flats instead of secure Council homes at low rents.
"We say every resident has a right to a vote before any demolition. Fix up our homes - don't demolish them. End the housing market madness
"NO DEMOLITION WITHOUT PERMISSION
"MORE SOCIAL HOUSING - SAFE AND SECURE HOMES FOR ALL
"USE PUBLIC LAND TO BUILD MORE COUNCIL HOMES
"END THE MADNESS OF THE HOUSING MARKET
"In the weeks after the rally, Cressingham Gardens, Ebury Bridge, Fenwick and Achilles are holding a daily vigil at City Hall demanding to meet Sadiq Khan. When they meet him, campaigners will demand a guaranteed ballot, with no conditions."
"JOIN THE RALLY AND FIGHT FOR A HOUSING POLICY THAT MAKES SENSE"
Paul Maloney, GMB Regional Secretary said: "GMB Congress called for all GMB branches to support residents on estates facing demolition to ensure that they have a proper input into the what happens on their estates.
"Sadiq Khan promised ballots in his 2016 election manifesto. He made good this promise this summer with his ballot process. This is welcome but more work is needed to end possible drafting loopholes and exceptions.
"However the wholesale exclusion of residents of these 36 estates facing demolition from the election manifesto promise is simply not acceptable and will not be accepted by the residents. Sadiq Khan and his advisers must go back to the drawing board and guarantee these residents ballots with no conditions."
Contact: For organisers call 020 7622 7201 or email fmilson119@gmail.com or for GMB call Michelle Gordon 07866 369 259 or GMB Southern Region 07970 114 762
Notes to editors:
List of the estates facing demolition and excluded from Sadiq Khan ballots process.
CAMDEN UNITS
Abbey area 241
Agar Grove 513
Maitland Park 112
Tybald's Estate 93
TOWER HAMLETS
Aberfeldy 206
Blackwell Reach 1,575
Chrisp Street Market 643
Exmouth Estate 80
Jubilee Street 24
Locksley site A 42
New Union Wharf 75
Ocean Estate 121
ENFIELD
Alma Estate 993
Ladderswood Way estate 517
Avenue Estate 400
SOUTHWARK
Aylesbury Estate 3,500 covered
Elmington Estate 632
Snowsfield (Guiness) 30
KINGSTON
Cambridge Road 2,003
HACKNEY
Colville Estate 935
Holly Street Estate 151
King's Crescent 765
Nightingale 700
Woodberry Down Estate 5,500
GREENWICH
Connaught Estate etc 1,500
LAMBETH
Cressingham 464
Fenwick 508
Knight's Walk 84
Loughborough Park 487
South Lambeth Estate 362
Westbury 334
WESTMINSTER
Ebury Bridge 700
EALING
Dean Gardens 317
Friary Park 476
Green Man Lane 770
Greenford golf links 125
Hanwell High Lane 461
Havelock Estate, Ealing 922
Rectory Park 425
LEWISHAM
Franklin Estate 209
Heathside and Lethbridge 459
BARKING AND DAGENHAM
Gascoigne Estate 175 + 850
BARNET
Grahame Park 1,083
BRENT
South Kilburn 2,400
RICHMOND
Ham Close 425
MERTON
High Path, Eastfields 2,800
WALTHAM FOREST
Lisgar Terrace 436
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
William Sutton Esate 270
Wornington Green 1,000
HAVERING
Napier House & New Plymouth House 200
Orchard Estate 555
Waterloo Estate 994
