Our homes are being knocked down by council – it’s becoming a ghost town but we don’t want to leave | The Sun
DESPERATE residents living in an estate that’s about to be knocked to the ground say they have nowhere to go and nobody’s helping them.
Some have called London’s Aylesbury Estate home for decades, but are preparing to say goodbye as the deteriorating council housing blocks are going to be torn down to make way for 3,500 new properties.
But the clock is ticking and many are worrying – they’re struggling to find anywhere to go and the demolition is looming over their heads.
Residents say the Southwark Council has stopped caring about their properties – leaving them in rat-infested, cockroach-ridden leaking homes.
They say they try to ‘bid’ for new council homes every Thursday, trying their hand at every home that would fit their families but have no luck.
Council says it’s “supporting” the tenants of Aylesbury on their move, with each home having a designated housing officer.
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But locals like Elaine Newman, 45, say such officers are no help as she’s still fighting for somewhere to live.
The mum-of-three said her teen daughter and younger son are forced to share a room, while she has “to put a brave face on” when things go wrong.
All she wants is a new home.
Elaine told The Sun: “I’ve been bidding on four-bedrooms – there’s none. I’ve done a lot."
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The 45-year-old said she didn’t even know if or when her home was being demolished as she’s heard nothing about it from the local body.
Elaine continued: “They’re not saying anything about it to us. Some people have started moving.”
Mary Oshibote has been living in Aylesbury for more than half her life and feels the council should be “helping” her find a new house.
She, her husband and daughter are now constantly bidding for new homes on Thursdays.
But, much like Elaine, they’ve not landed one.
Mary, who has been living in the same house for 31 years, said: “What I don’t like is I’ve been living here for years, you don’t want to be bidding.
“I want them to do it for me.”
When asked if she was worried about being kicked out, the mum said: “They can’t kick me out because I’ve been there a time.
“So long as they move me to a good place.”
The Walworth spot, which opened in the 1970s, was once thriving and thought to be one of the biggest council housing estates in Europe.
'GHOST TOWN'
But residents say it’s turned it into a “ghost town” as some of the blocks are cleared of residents, and it’s eerily quiet to walk through the boarded-up towering buildings.
It’s that quiet that some residents love – but that doesn’t mean they’re not ready to move on.
Jorgia, who did not want to give her last name, said she’d loved her six years in Aylesbury.
However, the mum said she too was battling to find a new home.
She said: “You feel safe – it’s so quiet.
“There’s no crime – it’s just the condition of living is not good. It’s too old.”
The mum said “of course” she’d like to move somewhere nice, but she can’t find anywhere.
She added: “There’s 200 people fighting for one property. They’re [council are] not finding anything for me.”
Other mums who did not want to be named told similar stories of relentlessly bidding every week.
'WE'RE ALWAYS WAITING'
One said: “Every year we hear this is going to be demolished. They always say that but we’re always waiting.
“I’m bidding – I’m bidding every Thursday. I’m worried. I really need somewhere on my own.”
Another slammed the council: “They just say I have to keep bidding. He says keep bidding.
“I just want to move but I don’t have priority.”
Southwark Council said residents have top priority and have the opportunity to choose where they live.
However, it added, there is a chronic shortage of temporary housing in London at the moment – hence the need to rebuild the estate.
Council leader councillor Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We’re currently on site building over 580 high-quality council homes on the Aylesbury estate for existing residents to move to, making it the largest new council homes site in the country, and with even more social rent homes on the way in future phases.
“We’ll be handing over the keys for many of these homes later this year and are looking forward to residents from the estate moving in.
“We’re replacing the homes that were badly built in the '60s and seventies, which are reaching the end of their life.
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“Given the size of the estate, with over 1,300 households living there today, we’re replacing the homes in phases so residents can also have one move from their current home to a brand new one.
“As well as the homes, we’re delivering a brand new library, green spaces and community facilities to ensure the renewed estate is a great place to live.”
How do you apply for council housing?
To apply for a council house, you need to hand in an application with the local council.
Simply access the gov.uk website and enter the postcode in which you want to apply for a council house in.
It will guide you to which council you need to contact.
Be aware that you'll probably have to join a waiting list and this still does not guarantee you a council house.
Once you are relocated to the council's website, it will show you guidelines on how to complete your application.
You will also get advice on how to stay in your home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage, or even tell you what to do if you're in immediate risk of becoming homeless.
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