Letter to papers on Housing in Barnet
The housing stories in your paper last week highlight just how uncaring are Barnet Council Conservatives , as once more they shun those in need.
A staggering five times, Barnet turned away a homeless woman– so she was forced to sleep on a night bus. The Local Government Ombudsman said there were systematic problems with the homeless service and ordered them to pay compensation, but that is surely second best to treating legitimate pleas for help properly.
Then we read that Barnet Homes’ office block is to be turned into flats so small, they have been described as ‘dog kennels’. When selling the block to developers, the Council could have written conditions into the sale to ensure that the building was converted into decent homes, not studio flats of just 16 square meters.
As usual, the Conservatives say there is nothing to be done, as yet again the Leader of the Council, Cllr. Richard “Pontius Pilate” Cornelius, washes his hands of all these problems, which are the inevitable result of his failed leadership.
Surely it’s time for Cllr Cornelius to accept he is out of his depth when it comes to finding solutions to the Council’s repeated incompetence about which we read virtually every week in the columns of this newspaper – and like any good ancient Roman who failed , fall on his proverbial sword?
Andrew Dismore
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden
City Hall
SE1 2AA
