LEWISHAM COUNCIL recently ‘discovered’ asbestos on some of their properties on the Honor Oak Estate. In true money-grabbing New Labour style, they want leaseholders on the estate ie those who bought their flats, to pay £11,000 to pay for its removal from their homes!
The council sold the leaseholders these properties without telling them of this dangerous problem but threaten that if leaseholders don’t pay £733 a month, they will take them to court!
On top of that Lewisham council have also talked of cutting funds from the estate’s refurbishment money, won by years of campaigning by tenants, to pay for asbestos removal from other properties.
Local tenants and campaigners are determined that the council won’t get away with this. The asbestos is the council’s responsibility – their property surveys should have shown it up long ago.
There is now a good chance to make the Labour-run council rue their decision. Socialist Party member Ian Page is a councillor in that ward and the ward’s only Labour councillor has resigned! So on 4 December there will be a by-election in Telegraph Hill ward.
The Socialist Party is standing in this ward where we have won the last two by-elections. Sam Dias, the former Socialist Party councillor, is unable to stand in this election as she is now paid by Lewisham council.
Our new candidate is health worker and local activist Chris Flood. We have already been out canvassing in the ward and we are getting a very friendly response.
If you want to help in this vital election ring the Socialist Party at 020 8988 8777.
