We were delighted that last Friday Boris Johnson’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Stephen Greenhalgh performed a U-Turn about his own decision to evict residents of Raynesfield, Raynes Park from their Met Police-owned homes.
But we remain angry with Stephen Greenhalgh for the way he has handled this whole process. Residents were threatened with eviction notices and repeatedly told their homes had to be sold, causing them uncertainty and anxiety. For that, the Deputy Mayor owes them an apology. He also needs to set out what he will do to help the 18 households who have already been pressured to leave Griffiths Road and Raynesfield by impending evictions and who will not be able to return to their properties.
The Wimbledon Guardian has followed this story from the beginning. The Deputy Mayor’s self-congratulation at his eleven hour intervention to save these families from eviction, along with his colleagues smacks of political opportunism. It was residents who fought long and hard to make their case, we are pleased they can stay but we now need assurances they will be offered secure long term tenancies and their rent will remain genuinely affordable.
At the end of the day, this was the Deputy Mayor’s own disastrous plan which has put residents through months of anxiety. He shouldn’t expect praise for being forced to back down and do the right thing, especially given many residents have already had to move out as a result of his plans.
Yours Sincerely,
Tom Copley AM and Councillor Andrew Judge
City Hall
- Send your letters to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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