On Tuesday 26th September residents from the Ledbury Estate tower blocks appeared in an emotional interview with BBC London News pleading with Southwark Council for respect and to listen to their issues and concerns. As works begin to install a new district heating system to the four tower blocks on the estate, residents describe the situation as 'living on a building site' with many unable to move into temporary accommodation as the B&B hotel rooms on offer do not meet their

On Sunday 24th September, residents of the Ledbury Estate, supported by community housing campaigners gathered for the second time to protest against the living conditions in the four tower blocks. The community came together once again to object to the lack of heating, delays in rehousing and lack of transparent communication by Southwark Council. Residents have now suggested to Southwark Councils Strategic Director for Housing and Modernisation Gerri Scott that another resi

Anthony Gold Solicitors, working on behalf of resident clients at the Ledbury Estate, formally wrote to Southwark Council's legal team (see previous post on this) informing them that they were in breach of their obligations as landlords by not providing heating. Southwark Council's legal team replied Anthony Gold solicitors have since responded, extending the deadline to the end of the working week for Southwark to act and pointing out potential alternatives to electrical hea

Unions are rallying together in support of the residents of the Ledbury Estate and have created an emergency resolution calling for workers to mobilise in the community backing up the demands of the residents.

On 19th September, Sajid Javid: Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced a government green paper on social housing, citing the cracks on Ledbury Estate during his speech at the annual conference of the National Housing Federation. Read his full speech below: Thank you, David [Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation], and good morning everyone. It’s great to be here in Birmingham and a real honour to be opening your conference this year. A

Anthony Gold solicitors, acting on behalf of Ledbury Estate residents have begun legal action to enforce the obligations of Southwark as landlord of the four tower blocks to supply heating to residents. Residents continue to be without any form of heating and are still under strict instruction from Southwark not to use electric heaters as, according to Southwark, the electric supply to the towers cannot cope with the increase usage. Anthony Gold solicitors have now written th

Southwark council have now responded to the questions raised by residents and the Ledbury Action Group at the Overview & Scrutiny meeting held at Tooley Street on 11th September. Find Southwarks response here The letter of 10th August has now been uploaded to the Ledbury Towers website, and many questions still remain unanswered.

On Sunday 17th September, over a month since the gas was removed on Ledbury Estate, residents came together to protest over the lack of basic amenities in the four tower blocks. Residents have been instructed not to use fan heaters as the electricity supply cannot cope with that level of usage but Southwark Council have offered no alternative for heating whatsoever, and as such, all residents are left in the cold. Several residents have already started becoming unwell as a re

Ledbury Estate residents have been left in the cold as planned heating works are delayed by Southwark Council. Following the removal of gas in the four tower blocks after the discovery that it could cause them to collapse in the case of an explosion, residents were assured that a replacement system for heating and hot water would be forthcoming. However over five weeks since the gas was switched off, residents are still left without heating, and as the weather turns colder, t

On Monday 12th September at an Overview and Scrutiny meeting held at Southwark's Tooley Street headquarters, Ledbury Estate residents raised concerns over Southwarks planned works due to start on Monday 18th September to install a new diesel-powered district heating system into the estates four tower blocks, following the emergency removal of the piped gas supply. The residents echoed concerns of chartered surveyor Arnold Tarling and architect Sam Webb; independent experts wo