Some families living in Riley House are concerned for their health.
Residents in Clapham Park have expressed their frustration about the living conditions within their flats leading up to winter.
At a meeting on Tuesday night, Riley House residents spoke to Labour Councillor Ed Davie about the problems they faced.
The main complaints were about mould growing on walls, damp ruining furniture and severe cold in the winter.
One mother of four, who doesn’t want to be named, has lived in Riley House for 13 years and says she is constantly ‘fighting a losing battle’.
She said she has to decorate her living room every year to stop the damp from ruining her curtains and is ‘dreading this winter’.
“Winter is terrible, you can feel the draft in the flat,” she said.
“It’s a big health risk to my children, they always ask me ‘mummy why aren’t Clapham Park moving us’.”
As part of Clapham Park’s regeneration project, Riley House was due for demolition in 2011. But because of the 2008 banking crisis, banks stopped lending money to Clapham Park Homes and annoyed residents are being told they will have to wait until 2016 the flat to be demolished.
Occupants have requested housing officers from Metropolitan Clapham Park to have a look at the living conditions for themselves and take immediate action.
Labour councillor Ed Davie said he was aware of the issues about the Clapham Park estate and has vowed to take the issues to the board of the Landlord Housing Association.
“It’s not right,” he said.
“It’s such a shame when I see them living in poor housing and not getting the opportunities they deserve. There are some brilliant people here and they deserve to have a fairer chance as anybody else.”
The Tenants and Residents Associations will meet on September 26 to further discuss the issues facing the Riley House residents.
Photo courtesy of jonlarge, with thanks.
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