by Clare Doyle, Hackney Socialist Party
The Woodberry Down estate in Hackney was built in the 1950s as a refuge for working-class families whose East End homes had been destroyed in the war. With central heating, running water, baths and spectacular views, they were a dream come true. For a while it was renowned as the largest public-housing complex in Europe.
Now, neglected and run-down, with massive private apartment blocks looming alongside them, they have become veritable slums. The so-called regeneration has seen increases in rents and service charges for long-term residents and totally unacceptable conditions such as mould developing and sewage leaks going unrepaired.
Photo: Hackney SP
Eden Laoutaris is a single parent with one child and pregnant with her second. Promises to rehouse her have been continually broken and she fears for her health and that of her children.
A protest at Hackney Town Hall was held on the afternoon of 19 May under the slogan ‘Justice for Eden’. Her mother, Katina, and sister Willow (babe in arms), along with local activists and passers-by, shouted slogans demanding immediate action. Several children took turns on the mic to ask “What do we want?” to get the crowd shouting back various demands for Hackney Council to do its job and house working-class people in decent and safe conditions.
Not only should Eden be re-housed, as a campaigning leaflet demands, in “a safe home within her Woodberry Down community”, but a crash programme of building and repairing homes should be launched by Hackney’s Labour Council. If they say they do not have sufficient funds, then, instead of making local people pay by putting up council tax and rents, they should dig into their substantial reserves.
Up and down the country, Labour councils should be demanding that a Labour government provide massive funds for local authorities. They could do this by taking into public ownership the big banks, insurance companies and industrial monopolies that continue to make massive profits at the expense of working people. No compensation should even be considered for the bloated fat cats; representatives of workers should be the ones to make all major decisions (in industry and in society as a whole).
Justice for Eden and for all exploited and poor people!