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Edition 29 | February 2015 | FREE
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Estate £14M repair costs ‘inflated’ BY ANNA MCKIE
Residents of Cressingham Gardens estate have accused Lambeth council of “grossly inflating” the estimated cost of refurbishing their estate. They say the real price-tag will be half of the council’s proposed figure of £14 million. The dispute over costs erupted at a meeting between Cressingham residents’ representatives and officials of Lambeth council and Lambeth Living, the housing stock managers, on January 26. At the meeting residents said an independent surveyor had estimated the cost of refurbishment as only £7 million. The representatives also say that when challenged, Lambeth Living was unable to justify how it had worked out its costs. “They couldn’t explain why they were allocating £4,000 for kitchen renewals,” said resident representative
Gerlinder Gniewosz. “Yet last year they signed a contract... which showed a complete new kitchen would cost a maximum of £2,000.” The battle over Cressingham Gardens first erupted following the Council’s announcement, in 2012, of regeneration plans for the estate that could involve its partial demolition. The council says regeneration is necessary as many of the flats are in a poor state. The plans include five options for Cressingham that range from repairing existing properties to complete demolition. The council favours an option that involves demolishing half the estate, on which new housing would be built by a private property developer. But the proposal is opposed by residents who are in favour of refurbishment. “We really enjoy living on the estate – we don’t want to leave. There is true community spirit here,” said resident Pam Douglas.
MATERIAL WEALTH: Market institution Simply Fabrics continues on its colourful roll, with two shops crammed full of sewing pleasures. Arts, p16
Cressingham Gardens residents. Picture: Louis Leeson At the meeting, residents questioned Cllr Matthew Bennett, Cabinet the calculations used to produce the Member for Housing, said: “We council’s £14 million figure. “Lambeth are working very closely with are saying sorting out windows on the Cressingham Gardens residents on estate would cost £1.7 million but getting homes on the estate up to the they were only installed 10 years ago Lambeth Housing Standard. At the and are supposed to last 30 years,” same time we are examining if new added Gniewosz. “Some need to be flats or houses could be built on the fixed, but it is completely unfounded estate as part of our pledge to make to say they all need to replaced.” 1,000 new homes across the borough “We also questioned the £150,000 available for council rent. allocated for drainage that was “As part of our work with residents apparently based on ‘surveys’. Yet on the refurbishment of Cressingham they could not provide any survey for Gardens they have produced their reference. It seems as though Lambeth own costings for the project. We will would prefer the cost of refurbishment thoroughly test those figures, and will to be a higher figure, so it can push be looking to make both savings and ahead with plans for demolition.” get the best value for money.”
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PUTTING ON THE RITZY: Follow the fascinating story behind your beloved cinema, from homemade carrot cake and old projectors to surviving riots and strikes . Features, p10
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ALL THE FUN OF THE FLEA Bag a bargain. From furniture and fabrics to mugs and bric-a- brac, there’ll be something for everyone. What’s On, p23
WHERE’S FRANCO? Meet Giuseppe Mascoli, the man behind Franco Manca - the Brixton gem now found all over London . Food, p9