Labour Councillors last night voted unanimously to cancel the planned regeneration of the Alton Estate, despite the scheme winning approval from the London Mayor and local planning committee.
The scheme, developed by the previous Conservative administration with cross-party support, was set to deliver 1,100 brand new homes, a new library and community facilities, new outdoor play spaces and critically new jobs and training opportunities for local people.
The Council is required to publish a report on the effect of major decisions on equality and its own analysis shows that the “negative equality impact would be high”, highlighting that residents will have to remain in overcrowded conditions, will have delays in receiving any of the community or economic benefits from the scheme, and that the plans will have a disproportionately negative effect on people from a black ethnic background.
Labour made no mention of these plans in their recent manifesto and committed to holding a ballot for residents on the scheme.
The Conservative Councillors on the committee voted unanimously against the plans to cancel the scheme and exhorted the Labour administration to fulfil their promises to residents.
Councillor Kim Caddy, Conservative spokesperson for Housing said:
“This decision is a travesty. A fantastic scheme, approved by both the London Mayor and by the local Planning committee will be scrapped, leaving residents without promised new homes, community facilities and long overdue economic investment. The Alton Estate is one of the most deprived areas in the Borough – Labour is betraying residents and breaking their promises, prioritising ideology over residents’ needs.”
Councillor Will Sweet, Leader of the Conservative Group said:
“This is a question of social justice – the previous Conservative administration were focussed on practical ways to address inequalities across the Borough and bring economic regeneration to the Alton – we would ask Labour to reconsider this decision for the sake of Alton residents.”
