Lewisham Council has come under severe criticism from Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson Councillor Brian Robson over the news that it will take 67 years for it to meet local social housing needs.
Responding to facts uncovered in Parliamentary Questions asked by London Liberal Democrat MPs, Cllr Robson commented:
"A child born today on Lewisham's housing waiting list should not potentially have to wait until they are retired before they get a decent home.
"Lack of housing wrecks lives. This news is a tragedy for the thousands of families stuck on Lewisham's housing list, with no prospect of getting re-housed any time soon."
"This comes hot on the heals of the Labour Mayor's broken promises on decent homes by 2010, and the shocking Audit Commission report on the Council's housing service. It's clear that Labour has no grip on the real housing problems of this borough."
2nd April 2007
Notes:
1. The answer to a Parliamentary Question by Lynne Featherstone MP showing that between 1996-2006, 2,733 new social homes were built in Lewisham, an average of 273 a year, is here
2. The answer to a Parliamentary Question by Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow MP showing that 18,273 families were on the housing waiting list in Lewisham is here
3. Therefore at a current rate of 273 homes per annum it would take 67 years to build homes for all families on the Lewisham housing waiting list.
Official Report Slams Lewisham Housing - Oct 2006
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