Lewisham Council Homes..Stop the bargain basement sell offs

One very busy week, with front page coverage of all the 3 local papers, more National news and TV coverage, and yet Lewisham Labour Council is refusing to admit that it is wrong at a time of cronic housing shortage to be selling off, much needed family homes.Could it be that it is Labour party policy to sell off Family homes and only allow new build flats to be built with 1 and 2 bedroom apartments?. could it be that our Labour council has a secret policy of getting rid of families in Social Housing across Lewisham, so it does not need to provide, New schools, Health Centers, Primary Care, Youth centres and More? How can you explain why in Answer to a Council Question, by Councillor Chris Maines, the Council admitted it had a staggering 2000 empty homes, left to rot across the Borough.Think of how many jobs could be created for local people refurbishing these homes...Why have the Labour Council at a time of cuts to front line services, paid £40.000 per year to keep just 1 family in a B&B, when it could have refurbished all these homes, got people of benifit and into real long term work, and had 2000 families paying rent and Council tax? Empty Homes do not just blight roads and streets, but we all pay a very high price for this Labour Council scandle, and Steve Bullock the Mayor, must be voted out at the next round of Elections.2000 homes would see Lewisham have more homes than the numbers in B&B and Hotels and Hostals Combined, we would have more money than we need to cover the cost of cuts to front line services prices would fall in private rental sector as the area would not have a property shortage..Our 5 Homes that we are refurbishing are ready to move families in need into.. is it so wrong, that we have had local residents and traders refurbish these 5 homes at cost, for free, so the Council can offer these homes to Lewisham residents in need? we are not seeking to profit or gain from this campaign, we are only seeking to high light a national Scandle that Lewisham Council is part off. in 1969 Lewisham Council was the first Council in the UK, tto support Housing Co-ops and squatters helping form wonderful Housing Co-ops, many of which remain to this day.. Lewisham Council could go back to this model, and be the UK leading Council on dealing with job creation and social Housing.Lewisham has the highest number of young people without work in the UK, and yet our proposals for Housing working with Lewisham College and our Come The Revolution Green skilled jobs scheme could turn this around.Please keep supporting the team..go to our website, become a member, launch other groups across the UK, in Irland People before Profit have 2 fantastic MPs, and sign on line our Petition,spread the word, Blog, Facebook, Tweet, and If you live in New Cross or Deptford, eat and Drink at our Community Cafe; Come the Revolution 467 New Cross Road Deptford Se14 6TA.open 8am-5pm Monday to Friday and 11am-4pm weekends.We offer tea and Crumpet just £1 and hot meal every day just £2. we also Offer meeting Space, Free Wifi and Internet Cafe.Advice, and Much more.. with summer Coming, we do best Ice Cream in South London. Our Petitions.. get every one you can to sign; www.change.org/petitions/defend-lewishams-council-housing Make a donation to Lewisham People Before Profit/ or Join us, membership is just £5 per year. Lewisham People Before Profit 97 Armoury road Deptford SE8 4LB www.peoplebeforeprofit.org.uk We will be at the Full Council Meeting Wednesday 29th February at 7pm to protest. Public Meetings; Lewisham People before profit hold open meetings the First Monday in Every month, at 7pm. Come the Revolution 467 New Cross Roadv Deptford Se14 6TA..you can buy Food and Tea/Coffee etc.

Greenwich signs up for its Own People before profit group

Last night Greenwich residents from across the political spectrum, and many who have never campaigned before came together to see if Greenwich was ready to welcome a new community campaigning group, that would put the Community and its residents interests before that of the Political establishment, and big business, with real talented people and real anger and concern at the way Labour Greenwich take labour voters for granted the meeting was really well run, and interesting, but certainly not the normal boring never ending meetings of old. Greenwich will meet in 2 weeks to form an action plan and a campaigns structure linked to opposition to cuts, the real need for Social housing, and a better deal for young people with Jobs and housing and services, so badly hit by the cuts..

Lewisham Homes Occupied for local residents

In just 1 week, Public sector housing in London, has become the number 1 story on ITN London Tonight news,. and BBC 1 South East News.. Evening Standard, radio and a huge host of publications have, and are running with the story.. so what is Lewisham People before profit hoping to do with this Campaign?. Most of the 5 homes we occupied last weekend, had been empty for between 5 and 10 years, with an average rent of £13,000 per year, plus £1300 Council tax per year. the loss to the tax payers of Lewisham in Council tax not paid and rent collected, is greater than the cost to save New Cross Library from Closure....Add to this the cost of 50 plus families in very expensive B&B and Hostal accomadation who could of been living in these wonderful homes. It is truly a disgrace and abuse of Power, that Lewisham Labour party who run the council, had also proposed on the quiet to sell these homes at knock down prices, with guide prices as low as £130.000 for 3 bedroom period homes, you do wonder as to who is getting what out of this, certainly not the Lewisham Tax payer, or the 17.000 plus people in urgent housing need on the councils list.. We plan to refurbish these homes at cost, and offer them back to families in real need on Lewisham Council housing list, even if you swallow the lie, that these homes will cost £40.000 to repair, this would cost in total £180.000 to buy a period 3 bedroom home in an area that as resently as January this year has homes selling at £400.000 plus. .By using local tradespeople and training local people out of work, we can get people back to work and off benifit, refurbishing these homes, and bring the homes back to life, for the Neighbourhoods they are left to rot in, and for the real housing need we have in Lewisham.. Paying rent, giving homes to people in need, collecting rents to raise funds to stop cuts in key local services.. is our campaign so wrong? Our House in Angus street is in wonderful Condition, we are hoping the Council will work with us, beyond the politics..and help us create local jobs for local people, mainly the young, and turn these buildings back into homes.. You are welcome to visit and see the homes for yourself..The Campaign Goes on, i hope that we can encourage Councils and residents across the UK, to stop selling public buildings, to get local people involved to bring empty buildings back in to community use..the Battle to Save and build more Council homes will go on.. Just help us build the campaigns and get the message out.. We still needs funds, People and offers of Help, and we could do with more people supporting our community Cafe, Come the revolution, at 467 New Crioss road Deptford Se14. open 8-5pm Monday to Friday, and 11-4 Weekends..