LIB DEMS SLAM LABOUR PLANS TO STALL AYLESBURY REGENERATION (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

LIB DEMS SLAM LABOUR PLANS TO STALL AYLESBURY REGENERATION

June 6, 2007 12:00 AM

Councillor Richard Thomas, Lib Dem Executive Member for Regeneration, has slammed the attempt by a senior Labour councillor to stall the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate.

Last night, Labour Cllr Abdul Mohammed, Chair of Walworth Community Council and councillor for Faraday Ward, petitioned the Planning Committee to reject the application for outline planning permission for part of the Aylesbury Estate regeneration.

"It is incredible that a senior Labour councillor should be wanting to delay, or even halt, the regeneration of the Aylesbury estate," said Cllr Richard Thomas. "This is a regeneration programme which has been in the pipeline for years and is required to transform an estate which is well beyond its lifespan."

"Local people on the Aylesbury live with a heating system which is often breaking down, with serious lift problems and with other issues such as structural defects, infestations and damp in many properties. It appears that Cllr Mohammed is keen for local people to have to continue to suffer these problems."

"The Council has held many consultation events with residents on the plans for the Aylesbury estate. We have received a warm welcome for the plans."

"Labour Councillors, including Cllr Mohammed, have been intimately involved in drawing up these plans as part of the steering group that is driving forward the regeneration. They have consistently agreed with us and the residents on our plans for the regeneration of the Aylesbury. Yet now we see a Labour councillor trying to stop a critical phase of the regeneration."

"I have to ask whether he speaks for the Labour Group. If so, Labour must make this change of policy clear and tell the people of the Aylesbury that they no longer support regeneration. If there has been no change of Labour policy then they should disown Cllr Mohammed's comments publicly."

ENDS