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From The Socialist newspaper, 24 January 2018
Gentrification scourge hits Kent
Strood: the next target for gentrification? photo by ClemRutter (CC) (Click to enlarge)
Chas Berry, North Kent Socialist Party
So-called 'gentrification' is on its way to parts of north Kent that are being packaged as the 'Thames Gateway'. As house prices and sky-high rents put London beyond the reach of many working class people, this scourge is making its way along the commuter lines looking for attractive locations to prey upon.
Its latest target is Strood, part of the Medway Towns, where plans to build a multi-million pound riverside development threaten to push aside the residents of Kingswear Gardens, currently sitting on this prime site.
Up to 80 social tenants could lose their homes if the plans go ahead. Rachel Tree who lives with her ten-year-old son on the estate said: "We came here for a fresh start after 18-months in temporary accommodation. It's a good area and my son goes to a local special school. I'll be devastated if we are forced to move."
Tenants are angry that Orbit and Moat housing associations, who own most of the properties, refused to attend the consultation events in Strood, leaving Medway council officials shrugging their shoulders. "I feel they are just passing the buck" said Rachel. "There is a huge housing crisis and we need to know what will happen to us."
Fear and uncertainty now affects the community, which includes a number of homeowners who are unable to sell their properties. The newly formed Kingswear Action Group has pledged to resist this latest round of social cleansing.
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In The Socialist 24 January 2018:
What we think
Turn Carillion crisis into movement against privatisation and capitalism
Socialist Party news and analysis
Welsh NHS crisis - we cannot go on like this
£2m to remove Grenfell-type cladding: residents to get bill
Leeds playing fields rescued from Blairites
May's "war on plastic" still puts profits before the planet
Vietnam war
Vietnam War: 50 years since the Tet Offensive
Socialist Party workplace news
Lecturers vote for strikes against pension cuts
PCS executive agrees next steps in pay campaign
Brum care workers protest council attacks
Amy Murphy Usdaw campaign meeting
Ballots against Bromley privatisers
Ferrybridge: Workers down tools over unpaid wages
International socialist news and analysis
Punishment of Tamimi family awakens wave of international solidarity
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Defend Louise Harrison - save Yorkshire women's services!
Victory against government's war on eastern European homeless
Gentrification scourge hits Kent
Kirklees council opens consultation of library services
Southampton: Pay rise for uni boss, job losses for lecturers
Obituaries
Obituary: Maureen Mulhearn 1945-2018
Opinion
Carillion and the construction industry
Carillion crisis exposes PFI chaos
Universal credit: set up to fail
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