Sutton MP's 'empty promises' on Elizabeth House (From This Is Local London)

Sutton MP's 'empty promises' on Elizabeth House

10:01am Friday 17th October 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow has been accused of making empty promises over the future of the Elizabeth House sheltered housing scheme.

Mr Burstow met the Elizabeth House Action Group last week.

After the meeting on October 7, Mr Burstow issued a strong statement saying: “I have undertaken to ask the council to give serious consideration to the possibility of remodelling the existing flats and bungalows.”

However, when questioned on what he will ask the council to consider, Mr Burstow backtracked saying he would only be requesting that decisions would be made more transparent in future.

Mr Burstow then issued another statement to make it clear there was no hope for the “remodelling option”.

He said: “I explained to the action group that I suspected that the economics of remodelling would rule it out, not least because it would probably result in a reduction in the amount of accommodation.”

Last month, Cheam villagers and residents of Elizabeth House formed the action group to oppose the “decanting” of the scheme’s 80 vulnerable residents.

The scheme, based in Cheam Village, is set to be demolished and its elderly tenants will be evicted.

Chairman of the Elizabeth House action group, Andy Tribble, said the meeting was a “free and fair exchange of views”.

Mr Tribble, a resident of the village said: “We are adamant that the initial decision needs revisiting.

“The council want to hand it to the developers as scorched earth.

“The council say they are not making any money out of the development, but they are certainly saving money by giving it away as they don’t have to refurbish it. The council want to give it to the housing developers, why can’t they give it to them as it is?

“Mr Burstow has built up his reputation on defending the rights of older people. For many residents, his reputation rests on Elizabeth House. This should be the defining issue for his career but he has just given us empty promises.”

Following Sutton Council’s decision in July to regenerate the area and provide affordable homes, residents have been angered at the lack of consultation they received on the original decision.

The council plans to give the land to housing developers so the new properties can be built.

A Sutton Council spokesman said: “Our proposals have been looked at by the health and well-being scrutiny committee and we are currently working on the outline planning brief. We are still in the middle of our consultation and are listening to residents, and others.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)