Massive delays in Clapham Park redevelopment causes misery for residents

11.20.00am GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

The Clapham Park estate redevelopment programme is being hit by massive delays of six years or more. In letters sent to some residents over Christmas, Clapham Park Homes revealed that some tenants and leaseholders will have to wait at least a further six years before they will get decent homes. Residents of Bowie Close and Moberly Rd had been told only last year that their homes would be demolished and that they would be rehoused this year (2010). But now they are being told they will have to wait till 2016 or beyond.

Residents of other blocks which are due to be refurbished eg Angus House will also face massive delays from 2011/12 to 2014/16.

Leaseholders, unable to sell their flats while they are blighted, cannot move and tenants will have to continue to put up with cold, damp flats.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham Chris Nicholson has raised residents concerns with Clapham Park Homes but has yet to receive a clear response as to what they will do to help residents affected by these further delays.

Chris Nicholson said " This project is being hit by delay after delay and many residents are losing what little faith they had that they will see improvements in their housing conditions. Clapham Park Homes do not seem to be offering any solution to residents concerns about the effect of these delays. They are also refusing to make public a revised schedule for the estate's development. They should come clean about what all this means for residents.

"When Labour's Housing Minister John Healey visited the estate a couple of weeks ago but all he offered was warm words about Clapham Park Homes being shortlisted for a bit more money. What residents want is guarantees of real money to improve their homes. Residents are being let down by Clapham Park Homes and by the Labour Government."

The Conservatives can't win in this area. Labour has let residents down. The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative for an improvement in housing conditions.