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You qoute me but didn't actually read what I wrote did you? Local party members have power through the party to keep an issue raised. Local councillors serve their local community. They have a duty to respond to any request made to them. The issue is a civil legal matter. They are limited in what they can do.
  • 2 weeks later...

Now that the circus regarding Brexit, Call me Dave and the Labour party has passed would it be possible for some update on the problems of Solomons Passage.


Will either Southwark Cllrs or Harriet Harman inform locals what has transpired to help all those people and what Wandle is doing.


Local party members have power through the party to keep an issued raised. What are they doing.


Although it is a civil legal matter for Wandle what are they doing to help residents? Apart from doing the basic requirement that their lawyers have instructed.


Perhaps Solomons residents could keep us up to date and not let this drop off the radar.

hi Spider.


Solomons Passage resident here. We are currently in a process of negotiation with Wandle over the terms and conditions of our move out before the extensive renovation/ demolition begins.


What that means for all of us is providing us with the opportunity to be able to replace like for like in the local area that we have built our lives, work and call home that we desperately don't want to leave.


This process is not quick and to be honest we are hardly off the starting blocks.


Harriet Harman and her office are supporting us through the process and applying constant pressure to Wandle and their support has been truly fantastic in such challenging times.

Solomons Passage resident here again, I am pleased that the Councillors continue the discuss the needs of Solomons Passage residents within their cross party meetings, we look forward to hearing their agreed plan of action to support to residents
Another Solomon's Passage resident here. I wanted to say thanks for your support everyone. It can feel very lonely when in the midst of a crisis so it's good to know we aren't alone. Elphinstone's Army just wanted to say that although our buildings look ok from the outside, inside the 'cracks' are very much showing. Numerous residents have been living with damp and mould for years, doing who knows what to our health. The evidence is there to see on our walls, ceilings and floors, complete with mushrooms in some areas (I kid you not). Our secure underground car park also pours like a waterfall when it rains, so don't be fooled by the exterior. As for the new shared ownership properties you mention, we have been offered these, but not on a like for like basis - so no transfer of % owned and they are far more expensive than our current homes were when we bought them. So effectively we are priced out of them unless we want to go backwards in terms of home ownership. :-( looking forward to receiving positive news soon.
  • 1 month later...

Someone in the lounge raised the matter of help for residents from the Mayor, could a resident bring us up to date as to what help the MP, Cllrs and Wandle are actually doing?


This should thread should not be allowed to die.


Look forward to an update

I'm away at the moment. Before I went Cllr Mills and I participated in a meeting with Wandle and Southwark's Head of Housing. I don't currently have access to my Southwark email, but I can update residents via pm through here.


Renata

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540318/Wandle_Housing_Association_RJ.pdf


Worth a look. The HCA references the cost of rebuilding as something that may give Wandle cause for concern when managing their fiscal viability over the coming years.

And to follow that, here is last years VFM self-assessment from Wandle.


http://www.wandle.com/media/file-browser/Wandle%20Value%20for%20Money%20self%20assessment%202014-15.pdf


It contains the projections that the HCA think to be optimistic in their report.

  • 3 weeks later...

Renata and Vicky


Thanks for your post above, I wonder if you have any update for the residents of Solomons Passage, can you provide us with an update from the outcome of your meeting? We are still trying to get a fair deal to be able to stay in the local area, but not getting anywhere fast.


Any help will be much appreciated.

  • 1 month later...

As there has been very little update on this, can any resident, shared owner or tenant bring the forum up to date. We do not want this matter to slowly die through lack of interest which may be the wanted course of action.


Cllr, MP.Anyone out there.

Here was our last report on what was happening.


http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/owners-condemned-flats-fear-housing-association-back-price-deal/


Some of the lease holders and shared ownership residents have left, and been made to sign non-disclosure agreements, so are now completely out of the picture. But there will be more to come.


Owen

Wow 'being made' to sign non disclosure agreements is truly shocking. I can only hope that for the tenants/owners involved it was truly worth it and that they are safe and will have homes in future as well as compensation for such a shocking experience.

When non disclosure agreements are used it might be the fact that they are offering to people a sum of money that is large in relation to their everyday experience of money.


This is starting to look very suspect.


Perhaps Harriet Harman and the local Cllr might like to comment.

About a week ago Harriet Harman and I attended a meeting between leaseholders, tenants, Wandle management and their Chair of Trustees. Around 70% of the leaseholders/shared owners have settled and have moved elsewhere. The properties being different sizes and different locations eg penthouse or ground floor, park view or not etc, also there are legal proceedings linked to the buildings; these could both be issues linked to the non-disclosure. This meeting was different to the previous ones in that it was noticeable that due to the settlements made by many of the leaseholders/shared owners that they were no longer present and this meeting was predominantly attended by tenants. Some of the remaining leaseholders/shared owners will move to temporary accommodation in the area and move back into their flats in Solomon's passage once the works are finished while others are still deciding what they wish to do.


The tenants are starting to secure temporary accommodation in the area. An issue which is of concern to some of the families is, that in the next couple of years, due to children getting older and requiring their own room (eg young boys and girls who are currently sharing) that Wandle would take this into consideration in agreeing rentals. Wandle have said yes, they would take this into consideration ie funding would be provided for such a family for a three bed rather than a two bed like they currently occupy in Solomon's passage. There are individual situations (eg where families have members with a specific need)which makes the process more tricky. Some families are likely to move from the blocks to be demolished to the previous leaseholder/part owner properties.


It has been an appalling situation for residents, is a slow process, communication has been far from ideal (very poor at times), but at least now there is some progress. We as Ward Councillors and Harriet Harman as their MP will continue to be involved in this process. We want to ensure that even the least vocal residents and those who are vulnerable are provided with a good accommodation solution by Wandle.

Renata

  • 3 months later...

Following the above can you bring us fully up to date on how these residents, leaseholders and shared ownership people are faring.


There has been a lack of information on how this is being solved.


I am writing for an up date as I have been told that many initial offers are not being honored and it a case of take what we offer or lump it. Even Hariett Harman does not respond to emails regarding this now.


I am sure that others would be interested as it does appear that this has been allowed to drop of the radar and

hoping no one will raise it.


I look forward to reading your response

There was a consultation meeting held by Wandle a couple of weeks ago - as a resident of Aura Court next door I was invited but couldn't make it, but they are supposed to be posting information on their website but haven't seen anything yet.

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