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Protesters at the garages where workers were confronted. ‘I told them they had better stop, which they did,’ said one resident |
Protesters halt demolition of garages to make way for flats
Police presence as neighbours prevent builders beginning work on block
POLICE turned up as dozens of neighbours prevented developers starting work on a controversial housing scheme in Archway this week.
The protesters halted the demolition of four garages used by elderly and disabled residents, including one who uses a wheelchair. They said no alternative facilities had been provided and there had been no consultation.
Housing association Mosaic Family Homes was due to start work on Monday on a two-storey block of flats in Pilgrims Way, off Hazellville Road, despite fierce opposition from residents.
The protesters say the seven flats have been “shoehorned” into a small area and will overlook homes and block out light.
In the stand-off, residents took turns to watch over the garages and by yesterday (Thursday) demolition workers had still not removed them.
Resident John Moore, 80, described how a team of demolition workers turned up in a van and started boarding up the garages even though some still held tools, equipment and personal items.
Mr Moore said: “I told them that they had better stop, which they did. Then I contacted everyone else and we held a demonstration outside the garages to show them that we didn’t like what was going on.”
Police attended briefly to ensure there was no physical confrontation between residents and developers.
Another resident, science author Manjit Kumar, said: “If this had been a private developer they would have consulted on a more thorough basis. It is the job of Mosaic to talk to residents and try and give reassurance rather than ride roughshod over them.”
One of the protesters, Islington Council’s Labour group leader Councillor Catherine West, said: “It’s outrageous how little consultation over this scheme there has been. When the Lib Dem council sold the site to Mosaic, residents were promised newsletters and meetings. That doesn’t appear to have happened.”
She added: “There’s been no strategy. If someone’s coming into your neighbourhood to build then, at the very least, they need to communicate, particularly with those being affected. That apparently hasn’t happened and I think it’s appalling.”
Homes for Islington – the council’s housing agency – has offered elderly and disabled drivers free outdoor parking spaces and a box to keep equipment in.
Cllr West said: “These residents have had their garages for 30 years. They are entitled to have them replaced like for like. That would be fair and just.”
A spokeswoman for Mosaic Family Homes said: “We will continue to work to secure a successful development of the scheme, which is intended to produce much-need affordable housing.” |
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