A campaign has been launched by a group of former residents
of a south London housing estate to highlight their plight after being evicted
by their landlords, only to see their former homes re-let months later.
R.A.G.E.S., Racism And Guinness Estate Support, was formed
after Black residents found the homes they were forced to leave were re
subsequently re let to white professionals.
Guinness South, the landlords, as part of their regeneration
plans for the 390 unit Loughborough Park estate in Brixton, evicted scores of
households to make way for demolition crews.
But, the group claim Guinness operated an ‘ethnic cleansing’
policy by evicting Black residents and replacing them with white professionals.
Residents claim the estate was at least ‘90 percent Black’ as recently as 18
months ago.
One current resident, who did not want to be named, claimed
the demographic changes taking place in Brixton have left many Black residents
feeling marginalised in an area once synonymous as a Black community. She said:
“It can be summed up in two words, ‘ethnic cleansing’. What has happened here
has left many people depressed and in fear. This is not an accident – it’s by
design.”
Remaining long term residents will witness the estate of
social housing transform to a new development of over 500 flats – with only 200
being social – and the remaining 300 flats are either for private sale or ‘affordable’
rent, which is 80% of market value.
In an area of high unemployment and social deprivation many
say locals are being driven out of their homes due to sky-rocketing property
prices in Brixton.
Mr Slingsby, originally from South Africa, was evicted in
2012 and has been sleeping on a friend’s sofa in a neighbouring borough ever
since. He said: “ This happened in South Africa so it’s sad to see it happening
again. What were they (Guinness) thinking when they started this action?”
He shakes his head as we stand outside of his old flat in
Holmbury House, a five storey block earmarked for demolition two years ago, but
now occupied by young professionals and remaining longterm residents.
Another group member and former resident, Malvia Johnson,
spent four weeks in hospital after being evicted from her home of seven years
in 2012. She said the stress of being made homeless triggered her illness. She
said: “Guinness were happy to take my money for seven years when the estate was
run down, but now they are rebuilding my money’s not good enough.
“They have destroyed our community and have scattered us
about the streets of London.”
This issue highlights the controversy surrounding the
regeneration of Britain’s most famous Black community and how long term
residents are being sidelined in the process.
One current resident, Beth Methari says the changes in
central Brixton are more serious than many realise. She said: “ I have lived
here for almost 10 years. My two sons, who were both born here, attend local
schools and have their friends nearby but Guinness want us out. It makes no
sense to evict families from social housing and replace them with private flats
for sale.”
Lee Jasper Chair of Black Activist Rising Against The Cuts said
" When I come to Brixton these days I feel swamped by an alien culture. I sense a subtle kind of economic and cultural apartheid developing. Guinness Trust have to explain what's going on here. Have they, as alleged by their former tenants, engaged in ethnic cleansing forcing out the majority black tenants from their homes and replacing them by largely white middle class tenants?"
He added;
"Its a very serious charge and one which they and the Mayor of London have to answer. It seems to many local people as though there is some sort of overt shared agenda among the powers that be to socially re-engineer Brixton. We wont stand for it. "
The regeneration of the estate is jointly funded by
Guinnness, Lambeth and the Mayor of London, however all were unavailable for
comment.
| brixtonrage@gmail.com |
