Tears flow over letter

• FOLLOWING support from the Tribune and councillors Martin Klute and Gary Doolan, the residents of the Popham 1 estate thought they could sleep easy when in October they received letters from Homes for Islington (HfI) informing them that if they did not contact HfI by November 5 then their names would be removed from the major works programme, they would no longer have to have boilers and radiators replaced, and that there would be no further communication on this subject.
Having seen work carried out by Apollo, residents breathed a sigh of relief. It was short-lived. On December 9 they received a letter which is the most contradictory ever written by HfI.
The letter said that if you did not contact HfI within five days you would be eliminated from the kitchen refurbishment programme. So, therefore, if you did not contact HfI, nothing would happen. Yes?... No.
The last paragraph of the letter says that if they do not get a reply, you will be referred to HfI legal section. Many elderly residents were in tears on receipt of this letter, which was also sent to residents who had already had the work completed.
HfI chief executive Eamon McGoldrick recently said: “We would like to reassure our residents that the future looks bright for them and HfI with the continuation of the excellent services we provide.” Two questions: Where? When?
MARTIN RUTHERFORD
Secretary, Popham 1 Estate Tenants and Residents Association