Estates in cleaners backlash - Tenants' champion Silla Carron demands public cleaners

Published: 6 May, 2010
by DAN CARRIER

TENANTS’ champion Silla Carron has fired a warning to council chiefs: “Get your private cleaners off my estate!”
The grandmother, who lives on the Castlehaven Estate in Kentish Town, has become a national figure during her 10-year campaign to improve housing estates and fight for tenants’ rights.
In her latest battle, she has spoken out after the Town Hall scrapped 15 estate caretaker posts in a cost-cutting exercise at the start of the year, replacing them with a private firm of cleaners who tidy the sprawling estate just once a week where Ms Carron lives.
After only three months under the new system, which is estimated to save the borough around £100,000 a year, tenants say that the changes have led to a rapid decline in the condition of communal areas.
Ms Carron, who won a Pride of Britain award for her work tackling anti-social crime drug  linked to drug  users, now makes TV documentaries aimed  at helping problem estates around Britain. And she insists the caretakers must return.
Unions, caretakers and tenants accused the Town Hall of adopting an “easy council” approach when they brought in French company Veolia, who have held the contract for rubbish collection. With the remaining caretakers given bigger beats to cover, the ruling Conservative and Lib Dem alliance were warned it would lead to estates becoming filthy.
Ms Carron said: “It looks totally disgusting. We have seen rats. Our caretakers used to be out every morning at 7.45am and were so proud of the place. We did not want these changes and warned the council what would happen.”
She said the council had carried out only a limited pilot scheme of new services in West Hampstead before introducing the new regime.
Ms Carron said: “They say it worked there, but it certainly hasn’t here. I have worked hard for a decade on this estate, but my pride in the area has gone down since the changes.”
Tenants elsewhere have backed Ms Carron’s claims. William Edgill, of the Flaxman Court Tenants Association in King’s Cross, said lives in his block have been blighted by festering rubbish.
“We have seen a reduction in caretaking services, and Flaxman Court has deteriorated markedly because of this,” added Mr Edgill. “We are simply not getting the service we need.”
He said those living in the 84-flat building rarely see a caretaker or cleaner.
A Camden Council spokeswoman said: “Council officers carry out random checks on levels of cleanliness to ensure our high standards are being met. All estates are cleaned to a Grade A standard, meaning they will be free of litter, detritus and dog fouling after every visit by the estate cleaners. There is a mobile cleaning service who respond to complaints.
“Overall there has been a positive response. However, we are aware that some residents have concerns and we are working with Veolia to ensure these are addressed.”