Labour Elephant deal betrayal (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

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

Labour Elephant deal betrayal

July 7, 2010 12:00 AM

The Leader of Southwark Liberal Democrats has described the revised deal that is expected to be agreed at the council's cabinet on 7th July as a 'betrayal' and is writing to the District Auditor to demand an urgent investigation into whether this deal still represents value for money for local taxpayers.

Lib Dem Leader, Cllr Anood Al-Samerai slams Labour's Elephant deal

Cllr Anood Al-Samerai says:

"This deal is a betrayal of the promises Labour made to voters just eight weeks ago. Labour promised a swimming pool - but this deal does nothing to guarantee a swimming pool. In fact the most likely option proposed by Labour is to send Southwark residents to Lambeth to swim and provide minimal leisure facilities on site.

"It is extremely bad news for the taxpayer as Labour have lost tens of millions of pounds - as a result of their incompetent renegotiation. In their mad rush to sign any deal they have squandered more than a third of the total capital receipts the council should have received.

"But tenants are the big losers. At the election Labour called for the building of 'thousands of new affordable homes', but their minimum requirement of 25% for affordable housing will see less than 800 built on the Heygate site. It shatters the council's planning requirements of 35% affordable housing in the area and will deliver fewer affordable homes than would have been secured by using these planning rules effectively.

"Labour called for the shopping centre to be demolished and the remodelling of the northern roundabout. But neither is included in the deal, as Labour pledged.

"Finally, it shreds any green credentials that Labour claim to have had. Allowing Lend Lease to find an alternative to the green power station (MUSCO) makes a carbon neutral development impossible and will harm the replacement of ageing district heating systems, including those on the Aylesbury. Labour will have to return the Clinton Foundation award.

"We are shocked that Labour could be so naïve as to think this is a deal worth recommending - they have been comprehensively crushed by the developers - no wonder Lend Lease are rumoured to be ecstatic with this new deal."