News from Siân Berry: Tenants 'failed across London' when left powerless over estate plans

When it comes to tenant involvement on estates, ‘there are failings all across London’, the Mayor of London agreed today when questioned by Sian Berry AM. [1]

Sian has been campaigning since being elected last yet to give people who live on estates more control over what happens to their homes when changes are made, and she has made a series of recommendations to the Mayor. [2, 3]

She had tabled a question for today’s Mayor’s Question Time before the Grenfell Tower disaster and acknowledged that the disaster has brought even more focus to these issues.

At the meeting Sian also took the Mayor to task over his recent comments urging the total demolition of tower blocks. After the Mayor called them ‘the worst mistakes of the 60s and 70s’ residents of tower blocks have contacted her worried about losing their homes.

The Mayor agreed that so far it appears there are ‘concerns with some refurbishments and how they were done rather a design fault in tower blocks’.

Sian Berry said:

People who live on estates need proper power and control over what happens to their homes – this has been my central message to the Mayor since last year.

Tenants need to be supported and have their ideas listened to and taken seriously.

I’m glad the Mayor rowed back on his call for tower blocks to be demolished.

The main focus of concern is 21st century refurbishments and if these buildings were not a fire risk before they were refurbished then they can and should be made safe rather than make the break up of communities that demolition projects bring even worse.

“I am glad the Mayor has agreed to meet me to discuss these issues further. Residents across London need to have their voice heard when it comes to being secure in their homes.”