Green Assembly Member Darren Johnson speaks out against Newham Council’s attempted eviction of the Focus E15 mothers group and the way such “model citizens” have been treated, suggesting a community-led solution.
Darren Johnson photographed outside the flats in Carpenters Estate.
Following the outcome of the court case today Darren Johnson has called for Newham Council to apologise for its attempted eviction of the Focus E15 Mothers group and to cease further such legal actions. The group currently occupy flats in the Carpenters Estate. He has already written to Sir Robin Wales, the Mayor of Newham, questioning some of the council’s claims and suggesting a community-led solution.
Darren commented, “When I visited the occupation yesterday I met an organised group of people doing inspiring work to campaign against the housing crisis. They were organising their legal case, playing with their children, renovating a flat downstairs, organising the many social activities they are putting on for the wider local community. They are model citizens and Newham Council should be ashamed for the way it has treated them.”
“Instead of demolishing social housing and evicting campaigners, Newham Council should work constructively with local people to refurbish homes on the Carpenters Estate and find community-led solutions to the housing crisis.
“We are seeing all too many perfectly serviceable social housing estates face demolition when refurbishment would be the obvious solution. I’ve worked with local residents to stave off demolition at Carpenters for several years now, going back to the time of the Olympics bid, and applaud the current protest. These homes should be lived in. The Mayor of London, as chair of the London Legacy Development Corporation, should ensure the local community are put in control of the estate’s future, and that these homes are lived in.”