Housing repair issues have got so bad, children are now getting involved

this week, this paper covered the school girls who challenged the council after finding out most of their class had dealt with severe repair issues in their homes.

Students from Notre Dame RC Girls School in Elephant and Castle joined community leaders and residents at the Southwark Council offices to raise the alarm about mould, damp and repairs issues.

We know that council tenants in Southwark are no strangers to these problems. But judging by these young advocates, the issue seems to have reached new heights.

The students’ arrival at the Tooley Street offices has created a storm on social media with the well-known housing activist and journalist Kwajo urging students to “keep returning until they listen”.

It’s reassuring that news of children living in unacceptable conditions provokes such a strong emotional reaction. Especially since the landmark ruling that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from prolonged exposure to the mould in his family’s Rochdale flat.

We receive a huge volume of calls every week from people wanting to highlight these issues, but sadly we can’t report on them all. However, in a bid to get answers for the people of Southwark, we looked into what might be behind the council’s seemingly slow response to repair issues.

A Freedom of Information Request revealed that there are just 78 Resident Services Officers responsible for 48,164 council homes, an average of 617 each. This would suggest that maybe the girls had a point in calling for each home to have a ‘caretaker’ to ensure repairs are done more efficiently.

Another meeting has been organised in Peckham Square where school kids will join community leaders and, once again, share accounts of their housing problems.

Southwark Council Leader Kieron Williams and Housing lead Darren Merrill couldn’t attend last Thursday’s meeting, but hopefully they will be at this next one.

It is nothing short of depressing that children have to come out of school to address these problems they are dealing with daily.

Perhaps this can set an example to all young people in Southwark that getting involved in local democracy does have the power to ignite some much-needed action - but in the words of Cllr Jasmine Ali: it’s a shame they had to meet like this.

Clues Across

1 The reliability of what can be eaten on credit? (11)

9 That is including a century in a cold state (3)

10 At no future time, according to the raven (9)

11 To tease us in return is sweet (5)

13 Those who are willing to reveal all? (7)

14 One who dines after noon initially is tidier (6)

16 One way I can change my mood (6)

18 Guess that the likeness will take in (7)

19 It’s more genuine to be faithful to what is right (5)

20 How a Latin son could join the citizens (9)

21 Be critical of the god (3)

22 Making a fresh judgement about how the fools sing? (11)

Clues Down

2 There’s grass in every English county (3)

3 One who gives a way in round the new head (5)

4 Stolid six in part of the skeleton (6)

5 Almost entice without effort in a sensational way (7)

6 The outfit of the philosopher after a theoretical start? (9)

7 Quarrels about putting different sons in sides (11)

8 Bring the dismissals to a halt and stop fighting (5,6)

12 Give a pledge beforehand and argue out the surroundings (9)

15 Men who periodically have a policy (7)

17 Argue if it will be back in time (6)

19 In short it inquires for jobs (5)

21 A church following could turn this use of words into a blow (3)

Clues Down

2 at

CRyPTiC PuZZlE

21 Total (3)

4 Stable 8 Trigger 9 Sponge 10 Actresses 11 Flag 13 Lunge 14 Relieve 16 Weather

18 Merit 19 Edge 21 Yesterday -- Greater 23 Rejoice 24 Deters Down: Fractured 2 Aggregate 3 Leash 5 Tips 6 Bungle 7 Emerge 9 Sever 11 Fireproof 12 Avoidance 15 Lever 16 Wedged 17 Aghast 20 Utter 21 Year

Apologies to all Crossword enthusiasts for no quick puzzle in last week’s paper. The person responsible has been flogged.