Council leader and deputy leader visit Heygate residents to offer support
Published 7 June 2010
The leader and deputy leader of Southwark Council have made personal visits to residents still living on the Heygate estate.
They went to hear first hand about their concerns and to reassure them that the council cares about their situation.
As preparations are already underway to begin demolition of the estate later this year, hundreds of residents have already moved. However, 37 households still remain, while they wait to move home.
In one of the first visits that the new leader and cabinet member for housing management have made since their appointment on 19 May, councillors Peter John and Ian Wingfield visited a leaseholder and three tenants and will be writing to all remaining residents to ask them to get in touch if they have any particular issues they would like to discuss.
Following his visit, Cllr Peter John, leader of Southwark Council said: "While I am sorry that I didn't have more time to speak to more people, it's been really helpful for me to talk directly to tenants and leaseholders about their experiences.
"I feel positive about today and there are clear priorities we need to deliver as a new administration for the remaining residents on the Heygate. As a Council we need to make sure that we listen to our residents and treat them as though they were a member of our own family.
"This has also given me good ideas about how to involve people in future regeneration schemes, such as the Aylesbury estate, and I will think very carefully about all they have told me today as I take the projects forward."
Councillor Ian Wingfield, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing management, said: "While it is clear that there are council officers who have been working really hard to support the remaining residents, this was a really important trip to hear first hand about people's concerns and issues. We'll now be following these up and seeing if there is any additional support that we can offer."
Sonay Baduna, the daughter of tenants still living on the Heygate, said: "It's been a really stressful process for my family. But I'm pleased Cllr John's been round to see my parents and I really hope it is a new start for them. We want to move on now."
