Mayor's failure punished by Labour Government (Lewisham Liberal Democrats)

Lewisham Liberal Democrats <info@lewishamlibdems.org.uk>

Mayor's failure punished by Labour Government

August 9, 2009 7:19 PM

Cllr Maines wants Labour to stick to their promise to Lewisham tenants

A Government announcement to build more houses will leave Lewisham tenants without the essential modernisation of their homes originally promised by 2010. The Housing Minister, John Healey, admitted it was tough decision as he withdrew £145 million earmarked to fund Lewisham's Decent Homes strategy to fund new homes to be built elsewhere in the country.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Maines said, "Labour are betraying thousands of Lewisham's housing tenants by cancelling a multi-million pound fund to fix their homes."

Lewisham's directly-elected Labour Mayor was elected on a promised to bring Lewisham's Council housing up to the Decent Homes standard by 2010. Failure to deal with the problem has meant that 70% of the properties locally are still below the Government's basic standard.

"This is a double whammy for Lewisham tenants," said Cllr Maines. "The Labour Mayor has failed to deliver decent homes, so the Government are taking away the funding and Lewisham will miss out on the new homes which will be built where the Government has faith in the local Council to deliver on time.

"Many Lewisham residents have been left needing new bathrooms, new windows and better insulation in their homes. The Labour Mayor has repeatedly promised that this work would be undertaken.

"The Government appear to be in a desperate bid for headlines, when last week they announced plans to build more homes around England. Those new homes are being paid for by the hard-pressed Lewisham residents. Labour have reneged on their promise to bring these homes up to 'decent standards' and are abandoning Lewisham tenants in the process."

The Chair of Lewisham's Public Accounts Committee, Cllr Alex Feakes, added, "The Government are robbing Peter to pay Paul. This is a theft of £145 million from Lewisham tenants and it's going to fund a another empty promise from a failed Government in a deep economic black hole".