Camden New Journal - Letters to the Editor Published: 16 October 2008
The ‘promise’ on housing passes to Margaret Beckett
•IT was of great interest to learn through the New Journal that at last Caroline Flint, the housing minister, had agreed to a meeting with Labour MPs and Camden councillors to discuss the future of our homes and in particular the way to achieve the Decent Homes Standard (Minister promises talks on repairs and decent homes, September 25). It was, however, a great shame to read less than a week later that Ms Flint’s ministerial position had passed to Margaret Beckett MP. Some of us see the promise of such a meeting as an important breakthrough, but it is imperative that the dialogue continues and that any “promise” is ultimately translated into tenants and Camden being given the funding it so richly deserves to repair all its homes – but it needs to happen now. There is no time to waste! What is the alternative? To continue selling Camden street properties at rapidly deflating prices at a time when thousands of Camden residents languish on Camden’s housing waiting list? Such an approach is purely nonsensical and this must surely be evident in the mind of any MP who claims to genuinely care about the future of council housing. Camden Association of Street Properties, as well as other groups and interested tenants have repeatedly asked to be involved in these discussions. We all need to act, MPs, Camden councillors and tenants if we are to stand any chance of escaping this bottomless black hole which has been in position in Camden for far too long! We urgently need vital investment for all our council properties, street property or estate based, now and in the future, for today’s and tomorrow’s generation So please Ms Beckett, act sooner rather than later, and let us all in! MIKE COOKSON-TAYLOR Chair, Camden Association of Street Properties, NW5
