We have been kept in the dark about area’s future

Published: 8 October, 2010

• DESPITE Councillor Philippa Roe’s reassurance (Letters, October 1) the consultation processes for the Futures Plan for Church Street, Lisson Green and Paddington to date has been lacking.

As chair of a residents’ association on Church Street Site 1, I attended the meetings that Cllr Roe refers to over many months, and never were we shown nor did we discuss specific proposals.

We were definitely kept in the dark and several have asked for their names to be removed from that body for that reason. We first saw these dramatic proposals along with everybody else when they were unveiled at the exhibition staged at the Church Street Neighbourhood Centre.

When you tell a community that you are proposing that their homes be demolished and their communities changed forever, you should expect anxiety and be prepared.

But when residents asked for specifics we got waffle.

Different staff gave differing answers... “We don’t know yet whether you will be ‘decanted’ out of the area/ everybody will stay local”... or, worse, a baffling lack of specifics.

When asked where the new green spaces were to be, a staff member pointed to Paddington Green!

The only thing that everybody seemed clear about is that these plans will add up to 700 new dwellings (families) to an already overcrowded area.

No wonder people have responded angrily.

Nothing was translated for residents whose first language is not English.

On the leaflet it stated (in English) that translations would be available upon request but when requested we were told that a) nothing had been translated yet and b) it would be “terribly expensive” and c) that it is Westminster City Council’s policy to only translate as requested.

How can it be reasonable to tell a family that you are proposing demolishing their home and decanting their family elsewhere in a language they do not understand? Thankfully the city council has now had some of the written material translated. And interpreters are available at some sessions.

If the council wants the community to support and understand its proposals it needs to understand and support the community.

At the moment local people cannot see the “glory at the end of the road”, because they are quite naturally focused on the process.

It’s the responsibility of the city council, Urban Initiatives and the Church Street Neighbourhood Management quickly to pull our combined efforts together and get this consultation right if we want residents to accept that it is about improving our lives, and not just about increasing the council’s social housing stock.

CAROLE SPEDDING
Chair, Four Rivers Residents Association Church Street Estate Site 1
Member, Church Street Neighbourhood Management Board