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It’s time to start showing some respect for tenants
• ONCE again the residents of Hillside estate in Archway are being ignored. Last week some of our most vulnerable residents with garages, one of whom has had his for more than 20 years, were astonished to find contractors for Family Mosaic, which had purchased the land, at the garages. Residents demonstrated and the contractors were turned away.
Otherwise residents would have been without their cars, which are essential to lead a normal life. Some of these garages also house disabled equipment such as mobility scooters.
To date, they have not received an apology. In fact, this was followed up with another attempt to heavy handedly take these garages back, with the police being called as the residents had decided enough was enough. These residents were resolute in their commitment to let Islington Council, Family Mosaic and Homes for Islington (HfI) know that they had had enough of being treated like invisible tenants.
An HfI manager attempted to make contact with Family Mosaic with a view to resolving this via further consultation, for which we are grateful. However, he was unable to do this.
Eventually, police did not feel they were able to allow demolition to take place.
We feel let down by the total lack of consultation over the proposed demolition of the garages. The vulnerable residents concerned were only given permits to park on the estate a few hours before Family Mosaic arrived. When are we going to bring back respect for council tenants and treat them like people? Is this too much to ask?
KULWANT RAIT
Chairman, Hillside Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association
• NEVER underestimate the disregard of Islington Council for those it purports to serve. Back in April, its north area planning committee gave planning permission to Family Mosaic Housing Association to build seven units on a strip of land the size of a handkerchief in Pilgrims Way, Archway.
Residents have overwhelmingly opposed the development for several years but it was clear at that meeting that the council was determined to push it through when the chairman ruled that he was going to allow only one objector to speak and then astonishingly decided who that would be – a fellow Lib Dem councillor.
Having gained planning permission, Family Mosaic promised to consult residents and send out regular newsletters, as this was one of the main criticisms levelled against it.
Six months later and no newsletters forthcoming, Family Mosaic turns up without warning to board up the garages rented to disabled tenants which occupy the current site. After being seen off by several angry tenants, residents of Louise Whitehouse block then received a letter telling them that the garages would be demolished the following Monday.
Furious at the lack of proper consultation or legal notification, residents organised a protest and said goodbye to the would-be demolishers who now said they were there to board up the garages.
The council has delivered us into the hands of an organisation which appears to care even less what residents think than the council. Hardly possible you might wonder.
The council is evading its responsibility for this mess by arguing that it cannot tell Mosaic what to do since the garages are no longer council property. Poor show, guys, and another nail in the coffin for the Lib Dems.
P KAY-KREIZMAN
N19
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