Living in a ‘hell hole’ (From News Shopper)

Living in a ‘hell hole’

11:09am Wednesday 31st May 2006

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A RESIDENTS' group is threatening to take Greenwich Council to the High Court over the "disgusting" living conditions homeowners are facing on their estate.

Since April 2004, 391 households have been moved from the Ferrier Estate in Kidbrooke, as the council prepares to demolish it to make way for a new housing development planned for 2018.

‘I feel scared for my safety. It reminds me of the estate where Damilola Taylor was murdered.’

LILY PUMPUNI

But 23 homeowners and three tenants who are still living on the estate fear their safety is at risk.

Residents say tower blocks have become derelict, with dark metal steel sheets covering landing windows and stairwells, making them "uninhabitable".

Now the Ferrier Freeholders and Leaseholders Advisory Group is threatening to take the council, which is the freeholder of the tower blocks, to court for breaching conditions set out in their leaseholders' agreement.

According to the agreement, the council is responsible for ensuring residents "may peaceably enjoy their flat during the term without any interruption".

It should also "keep in repair the structure and exterior of the flats and buildings".

Group chairman Gerry McWiliams said: "We are running out of patience and want the council to help these people living in these disgusting and dirty conditions.

"They are violating their basic human rights.

"These places are uninhabitable."

The homeowners are still on the estate because they have refused the council's offers for their homes, which they say is not enough to allow them to buy elsewhere.

If the council does not come up with an improved offer for freeholders and leaseholders it will have to get a compulsory purchase order.

This could mean a three-year delay before the council gains possession of the homes.

Mwanalamisi Malima, the only homeowner left living in Clegg House block, declined a council offer of £65,000 for her three-bedroom flat.

She bought the flat under the Right to Buy legislation, which allows council tenants to buy their homes, in April 2004.

The mother-of-three said: "I pray I'll receive a letter from the council to get me out of this hell hole.

"The metal sheets make me feel like I'm living in a prison. I can't see who is coming up the stairs.

"I even feel too scared to enter the block."

Lily Pumpuni is one of three leaseholders living in similar conditions in the Sala House block.

The 40-year-old chef said: "I feel scared for my safety. It's so dark.

"I don't want something to happen to me before I move.

"It reminds me of the estate where Damilola Taylor was murdered.

"The council is not being considerate to people such as me."

Council leader councillor Chris Roberts said: "Demolition is what people want. We have made a good offer to all leaseholders, the market value of their home plus 10 per cent.

"Nearly a third of leaseholders have already agreed terms with us.

"We are working hard to keep the estate safe. Legal action is likely to make the whole job more difficult and could affect everyone else."

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