Weir Estate walkabout

I spent some time walking about the Weir Estate recently to see the results of the £2 million a week investment that is being spent to upgrade council homes right across Lambeth. It was a pleasure to join residents’ leader Dave McEvoy on a walkabout of the Weir Estate in Balham to see how the works are improving people’s lives there.

The funding for the Weir Estate came through after Dave and other residents joined forces with their local councillors to demand action. Two of those councillors, Lib Peck and Diana Morris, joined us on the visit as did Assembly member Valerie Shawcross. Dave led us through the estate to see the new double-glazed windows being installed to replace the worn-out old metal-frame windows.

Dave introduced me to Pat and George Broderick who have lived on the estate for 54 years. They were both thrilled to have new windows. Pat told me their flat was much warmer now, and much better than the draughty, leaking old windows they replaced. George was delighted too and told me this was the first council that had ever listened to what local people need.

We walked on past block after block surrounded by scaffolding as the improvement work is carried out. We walked through Agnes Riley Gardens to see the great new football pitches and then on to the Poynders Road Estate to meet another hard-working tenant leader, Lyn Lazenby. Lyn showed us round the new community flat and pointed out some problems with the communal bin chambers. After a chat with Lyn about security lighting, it was back to the fantastic Weir Link Centre. The Weir Link was for decades a derelict old laundry left abandoned and unused. Today, thanks to the hard work of community activists with backing from their council, it’s a thriving community and children’s centre.

The walkabout reminded me what a huge difference we can all make when we work together in partnership. Local community leaders working with their councillors can bring in the investment that makes positive change happen. A big thanks to Dave and everyone else who took the time to show us what an amazing difference they’re making to the Weir Estate.

Decent Homes

I’m delighted to report that Housing Minister John Healey MP has confirmed Lambeth will receive £230m to improve 10,000 sub-standard council homes. The council needs the additional money on top of almost £2 million a week already being spent to bring all council homes in the borough up to minimum standards. The upgrades will include new windows, roofs, doors, central heating and modernised kitchens and bathrooms.

The money is available to the council because residents voted to set up an ALMO – arms-length management organisation – to manage Lambeth’s council homes. The ALMO, called Lambeth Living, is led by a board that includes elected tenant and leaseholder representatives making the service directly answerable to residents. The government only makes additional funding available to ALMOs so we took action to make sure that Lambeth residents would benefit.

John Healey’s letter this week is the final confirmation that the money will come through as soon as the ALMO reaches the two-star standard that shows they are ready to spend it properly.

Celebrating the new Evelyn Grace Academy

I’m at the new Evelyn Grace Academy in Loughborough Park this afternoon with Councillor Paul McGlone and others to celebrate this great development and investment in our children’s education. The school is due to be completed next summer and I’m looking forward to seeing students being taught in this state of the art facility.