Labour's housing mess slammed (Norwich Liberal Democrats Online)

Norwich Liberal Democrats Online <info@norwichlibdems.org.uk>

Labour's housing mess slammed

July 18, 2009 12:00 AM

April Pond and Simon Wright are campaigning for an independent inquiry into the Greyhound Opening scandal

Labour's bosses at City Hall have had a disastrous year. The council has been rocked by the Greyhound Opening 'Homes-for-Staff Scandal' and a damning report into its housing service.

There was national outcry when The Times revealed that elderly residents had been moved out and council officers moved in.

Labour's City Hall bosses denied any knowledge of the affair and a senior officer who had moved into the flats was sacked. However calls from the City Council's Lib Dem Group for a full independent inquiry have consistently been blocked.

There was more bad news for Norwich tenants and leaseholders when government inspectors rated Norwich housing service as one of the worst in the country.

In a survey carried out by the Liberal Democrats of Norwich tenants and leaseholders there was widespread support for a new hotline so people could make their voices heard.

Lib Dem campaigner for Norwich North April Pond has been supporting calls by her Lib Dem colleagues on the City Council for a full independent inquiry into the Greyhound Opening Scandal.

"Labour has really let the thousands of tenants and leaseholders in Norwich down," April said.

"It's clear the City Council does not know what's going on with its own homes. They made a mess of this from the start and are no where near sorting it out yet."