On 11 November shameless Waltham Forest councillors, led by Labour’s Chris Robbins, unanimously voted for the decanting of human beings, the destruction of communities and the demolition of homes. Councillors overrode the majority of residents of the 234 council homes of the 17-storey John Walsh and Fred Wigg towers in Leytonstone who had voted for Option 1, the refurbishment of their flats. The councillors were only prepared to consider Option 3 – moving people out, knocking down their homes, building private flats and losing in the process 70 council properties. Option 2 would have given the go-ahead for the demolition of both towers with three, including a private one, rebuilt in their stead.
A diverse group of residents and supporters, led predominantly by a group of local black women and including RCG comrades and Focus E15 campaigners, packed out the public gallery and booed and jeered in outrage as the councillors spoke of ‘transformational refurbishment’ and building a ‘mixed community’ (ie gentrification) in what is already a very diverse area. They say that those decanted will have the freedom to move back in 2020/2021. But everyone knows the reality – we have seen it all before. The Heygate estate in south London was demolished with the loss of more than a thousand council homes and is being rebuilt with just 79 flats at what is laughably called an ‘affordable’ rent out of 2,535 new units. On the Carpenters Estate in Stratford more than 450 homes still lie empty after previous tenants were decanted. Some have been empty for eight years, and no one has the right to return, with many former residents still homeless. Both these were planned and carried out by Labour councils.
At the Waltham Forest council meeting, the residents spoke of their determination not to be driven out of their homes. Rosina, who is 93 years old, was clear that she was not moving, having lived there since 1965. Several residents have faced homelessness in the past and refuse to be moved and run the risk of homelessness again. Many said that they would never vote for Labour after seeing what this Labour council is prepared to do to them.
The campaign includes activist residents who have previously organised against state racism and the stationing of surface-to-air missiles on top of the towers by the Ministry of Defence during the 2012 Olympic Games. This November campaigners occupied the council chambers and blocked the exits in protest. The council responded by calling the police.
The residents are united and militant, the resistance is strong and the fight is on.
Andrew George
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