Pepys Regeneration Forum - 26th November 1998
Lynne Clements - "The review of Pepys Estate Action would give the Council the opportunity tp provide more family house with gardens, which at present, were in short supply on the Estate, but in high demand ... the possible introduction of family housing would help reduce the maintenance cost on the Estate as there would be less communal areas to vandalise. The level of tranfer rquests from the Estate remains high despite the work carried out."
Lynne Clements - "If the view of the majority of residents is that they want to stay where they are, then, it is most unlikely that the Council will go ahead with the review proposals. ( I wish to ) stress that no decision has been taken in terms of a review of Pepys Estate Action."
( In correction to minutes of meeting of 15th december 1998 ).
Dave Fleming - "Was there a Government policy directed back to Lewisham Council, or was it Lewisham Council's own policy to force people to go into HA's rather than Council property ?"
Theresa Camilleri - "What she had actually said was 'she felt tenants were being conned out of their homes' and turned out as reported in the minutes."
Dave Fleming - ( Regarding the Survey in Aragon Tower ) - "The questions asked on the initial survey were very misleading. Residents were not aware that if the block was not transferred or sold off, then the Council would continue with the refurbishment of Aragon the same as Daubeny and Eddystone ... Is the reason behind all this due to a shortage of money ?"
Frank Taggert - "When the Pepys Estate was transferred from the GLC, it was given over debt free with huge sums of money to maintain it. ( I ) do not understand why we have to knock down existing blcoks to build new ones. The money was available to maintain them but it has obviously been squandered."
Theresa Camilleri - "How much do the Council intend to sell Aragon Tower for and what was the market value of each unit ?" ( Reply - Mike England - Estimate 1m, but this could go up or down. )
Cllr Mee Ling Ng - "There is a clear demand for low rise family housing with gardens and this is an opportunity to reduce the density of the Estate."
Lynne Clements - "As well as Aragon Tower and the other four blocks we now want to look at including Millard and Marlowe in order to give us a bigger site. The Council are not trying to hide anything and are not trying to unroll some master plan."
Cllr Mee Ling Ng - "We need to decide what our vision for the Estate is and that residents play an important role in this. The other works which have been carried out had been signed, selaed and endorsed by the residents."
Theresa Camilleri - "( I ) am disgusted by Cllr Ng's remark that tenants had endorsed these works, and that she should be ashamed that she had made such a comment."
Public Meeting - 27th February 1999 - in Pepys Tenants Hall to discuss Pepys Estate Action Review.
Mike England - "Estate Action Programme on the Pepys Estate is being run well and according to plan, there is enough money to carry on with the planned scheme of work ... There is no hidden agenda behind the review and ther is no pressure to choose any one of the options. What will be considered is the outcome of the consultation due to take place shortly; if people say 'no' to the options to redevelop there will be no redevelopment if people show an interest in the idea of redevelopment, it will be taken forward."
Jessica Leech - "( I ) am opposed to the demolition, and have been working to oppose it together with other people of similar views. The proposals make no sense; Marlowe ( for example ) is good housing with good views, some properties have gardens and room sizes are generous. The idea of knocking down blocks and replacing them with similar building makes no sense. The accomodation will be similar, only the ownership will be different ( a HA ).
The Estate is attractive, it feels safe, it is trouble free and quiet. It is possible the 6m in the form of Single Regeneration Budget will be awarded to the Estate. This is what will make a difference."
Anne Smith - " ( I ) am opposed to demolition of Albemarle House ( lived there for 31 years ). The residents do not want the block demolished but want refurbishment to go ahead as planned ... The questionaire on which the survey is be base is biased, it is not a questionaire it is a census for demolition and decanting."
David Kendrick - "it seems to be the disused garages which are condemning
Barfleur to demolition. This tenant has found living in Barfleur successful.
Something could have been done about the garages some time ago."
Sharon Gunning - " ... Demolition is not the answer. We will be losing homes on the Estate, the Council as a landlord and secure tenancies."
Resident of Millard House - "The structure of the buildings is in good condition ... demolition is a waste of money. Why doesn't the Council build more homes instead ?"
Dave Fleming - "The way the Survey is constructed, everyone asked would say yes if they were offered a house with a garden, but it will be means tested, and lots of people will get another flat, somewhere even out of the Borough or have to pay more rent."
Hannah Baneth - "Tenants havenot been involved in which is the Best Value. The problems on the Estate include neighbourhood nuisance and are not structural. The Council has failed in participation and HA's are worse still. Can the Chair of Housing tell the truth - what are the plans."
Mike England - "There is only one option to refurbish the blocks because there is no extra money for refurbishment, only that already allocated."
Mike England - "The Government would not approve ( a Survey ) and decsions made on the basis of a false questionaire. This is why an accredited independent company has been appointed to carry out the survey."
Cllr Gordon - "No overall policy has been decided with regard to the future of Council housing in Lewisham. There are a number of options to bring in the money which is needed."
Dave Fleming - "I propose sticking to the Estate Action timetable. The
questionaire should not go out."
Mike England - "The Council may not be the best landlords, but we are certainly not the worst."
Pepys Regeneration Forum - 29th July 1999
Dave Fleming - "The survey should have been carried out on a block by block basis and therefore not correctly done."
Pepys Neighbourhood Committee Meeting - 26th January 1999.