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Welfare of the vulnerable should be our first concern
• IN late 1969 I arrived on promotion to sergeant at Marylebone Lane after a half dozen eventful years as a PC in the East End of London, and during the next 20 or so years went on to become, arguably, the busiest custody sergeant in the country.
During my early service in Limehouse, Poplar and the Isle of Dogs, I was guided by a church notice that bluntly admonished us that those who never changed their minds never corrected their mistakes. As a sergeant, I had the advice of a notice from the 18th-century that exhorted all those holding the office of constable (and, by extension, ALL offices of authority) to use that position for the best possible public good at every opportunity.
How sad that politicians are not guided by similar strictures on public behaviour. If they were, perhaps we would not have to witness the sort of sorry affair that seems to surround the saga of the older people’s accommodation in Beaumont Street, as reported in your edition of August 10 (Pensioner insists ‘I’ll not move’ in the siege of Macintosh House, August 10).
It is all too prevalent that money and expediency are the watchwords of present-day political activity, both national and local, not care for people.
When one of the richest local authorities in the land loses sight of its essential raison d’etre we should demand a shakedown of its aims and proper responsibilities. Forget the flash limos for its executives for a start!
The most vulnerable should be of the highest concern and given the closest attention in any such consideration and review, and their welfare and personal needs given precedence over profit – especially when a covenant is the original aim and intention.
If my council tax is any guide, Westminster can easily afford it!
MARK NEWBERRY
Harcourt Street, W1
• THE news that elderly residents of Bridgefield House, Queensway in Bayswater are the latest victims of Westminster Conservatives’ cold-hearted housing policies cannot be any surprise to any one who has followed the disgraceful way in which the council has treated elderly residents of Macintosh House, Marylebone, over the past year.
Now 20 elderly residents in Bayswater, some 90 years old, will have no choice but to move out of the homes in order to make way for “modernisation” by a Conservative council which is more concerned with financial profit than providing dignity to Westminster’s elderly in the twilight of their lives.
It’s all money, money, money for Westminster Conservatives. Surely with more than £68 million lying idle in the bank Britain’s richest council could afford to give a little, rather than constantly taking from the most vulnerable.
CLLR PAUL DIMOLDENBERG
Leader of the Labour Group, Westminster City Hall
• RECENT reports may have misled your readers as to what is happening at Macintosh House.
For some time Westminster City Council found it difficult to let the Macintosh House bedsits to elderly residents in need of sheltered accommodation. Following the advice of independent experts that the facilities do not meet the high standard we now expect to offer our residents in need of sheltered accommodation, and as the building is on a relatively short lease, we decided to decommission it.
For many months now we have helped residents in choosing their new sheltered accommodation. Only three tenants, none with sheltered needs, are now left in Macintosh House, and one of these has chosen a new flat which is being decorated.
Our Every Older Person Matters agenda aims to provide residents with accommodation and facilities which help them to live healthy, fulfilling and independent lives, and that is why the money raised from surrendering the Macintosh lease early is ring-fenced to improve accommodation in our other sheltered housing homes.
We have worked sympathetically and tirelessly to help the residents into new accommodation which suits them better and of a higher standard, and residents have been content with the outcome. We will continue to assist the remaining residents into new homes.
CLLR ANGELA HARVEY
Cabinet Member for
Housing, Westminster
City Council
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