­NEWSLETTER­OF­THE­TEWKESBURY­LODGE­ESTATE­RESIDENTS’­ASSOCIATION Summer 2015 Homelessness in Lewisham Printed on – a hostel solution? recycled paper As part of the Council’s strategy to reduce schools indicate that they do not consider the homelessness in the Borough, planning applica - proposals will present a problem for them. tions have been submitted to turn 118 Canonbie Road and Hamilton Lodge on Honor Oak Road into hostels for homeless families. Short term family accommodation is much needed for Lewisham families who find themselves homeless, often through no fault of their own. At present there are 574 Lewisham residents being put up and paid for in bed and breakfast accommodation, many of them outside the Borough: this type of temporary accommoda - tion is very expensive as well as being unsuit - able for families in housing need. Hamilton Lodge, a detached three storey Edwardian building, was used as a 32 unit nursing home until it was purchased by Lewisham Council following closure after the Care Quality Commission found serious issues of non-compliance with four of five key regula - tions. The Council acquired 118 Canonbie Road in April after protracted legal processes to gain possession of the property which was being illegally run as a hostel. If change of use is approved, work will start to build self- What is perhaps more of a problem for neigh - contained accommodation for 9 families in bouring householders is the antisocial behav - Canonbie Road, and convert Hamilton Lodge iour issue. Members living near 118 Canonbie Inside this issue: into 22 residential units, some self-contained, have had to endure years of antisocial behav - Page: some shared facilities, but all of a good iour when the property was used by a private Hostel Solution: 1 standard. Neither properties will be used to landlord as an unlicensed hostel for mainly Diary Dates: 2 house single homeless people. single people, many of whom appeared to have From the Chair: 2 come to England in search of work. Police Hamilton Lodge: 2 Objections to the planning applications have were frequently called to the property to deal Easter Egg Hunt: 3 been raised by some TLERA members primar - with disturbances and instances of alcohol and Summer Events: 4 ily concerning pressure on local services, partic - drug abuse, often in the early hours of the Reservoir Site: 4 ularly schools, and the potential for anti-social morning. Council officers liaised with police, Reservoir History: 5 behaviour. Regarding primary school places, housing and environmental agencies to try to Planning update: 6 because of the temporary nature of the accom - resolve the issues but eventually had no option 20 mph Zone: 7 modation, in-year transfers will not be an issue but to undertake lengthy legal procedures to Water Issues: 7 if the children are already in another school in obtain vacant possession of the property in Picturehouse : 8 Lewisham. Children starting school for the first April. However, the effect on neighbours, Nature Corner : 8 time this year will not be a problem either, as particularly those with young children, has Horniman Plans : 9 they will already have a school place. Looking meant that there is an understandable mistrust Horniman News: 11 forward to September 2016, the aim would be of the property once again being used as a Seasonal Recipe: 11 to find first time places in schools near to where hostel, albeit a Council run facility. We have Subscriptions: 12 the families are likely to be rehoused. been assured that the Council has a long and Committee List: 12 Discussions with two of the three local primary successful history of managing hostels in the www.tewkesburylodge.org.uk While this newsletter Borough and will provide a full management, Given this, it was agreed that the Association was in production, the housing support, maintenance and caretaking should not formerly object to the proposals, but Council arranged a service. Householders will rent their accommo - note any concerns that were raised and seek community meeting to dation by way of a licence which means that if clarification/reassurance from the relevant give residents an they fail to comply with the conditions attached, Council officers. This was also the stance opportunity to raise e.g., not causing a nuisance or not looking after adopted by the Forest Hill Society (FHS). their concerns about their accommodation, they can be served with a Rowena Lowe, our lead Planning Officer, is the proposed change of notice to vacate within 7 days, or sooner if advising members who oppose the application use with our council - necessary. of several issues she has identified that can be lors and relevant used in their letters of objection. These points Council officers. We The TLERA Committee have discussed the have been shared with the FHS who have also will post an update on Council’s plans in detail on several occasions, raised concerns relating primarily to transport this, together with any but no clear consensus was reached. What was issues and the proposed internal layout of the subsequent develop - also clear in discussions with members was that accommodation. ments via e-mail/our there was also no real consensus among them. website. Dates for your diary NGS Open Garden event: Saturday, June 20th & Fireworks event: Saturday, November 7th Sunday, June 21st (provisional) TLERA Summer Picnic: Sunday, July 5th between 1-5 pm in the triangle, Horniman Drive From the chair The­Association­is­receiving­a­growing­number ity­to­the­environment­and­that­their­impact­is of­complaints­from­members­about­the­impact minimised.­­­ on­their­property­of­loft­conversions­and­exten - sions­carried­out­by­neighbours.­­With­increased As­you­will­read­in­this­newsletter,­our­first demand­for­housing­and­the­rising­popularity­of Easter­event­was­a­real­success,­with­all­money home­improvement­projects­(we're­all­doing raised­going­to­Demelza,­a­charity­providing them!)­it's­likely­that­more­applications­will­be hospice­care­for­very­sick­children­in­south­east put­in­over­the­coming­months.­­Our­involve - London­and­Kent.­­We­will­most­definitely­be ment­in­commenting­on­planning­applications adding­that­to­the­annual­TLERA­events­calen - for­these­is­considered­on­a­case­by­case­basis. dar!­­This­year,­our­Garden­Group­has­organ - However,­with­ever-rising­property­values­and ised­two­open­garden­events­for­the­National the­temporary­relaxation­of­planning­regula - Garden­Scheme­(NGS),­the­first­of­which­may tions,­many­fairly­major­changes­to­a­house­and have­taken­place­by­the­time­you­receive­this its­gardens­may­be­undertaken­without­the­need newsletter.­­If­you­are­not­on­our­email­list­and for­planning­permission.­­If­you­are­considering missed­the­first­opening,­do­come­along­and­see alterations­to­your­home,­do­think­about­the the­four­gardens­opening­on­June­21st­and impact­on­your­neighbours,­and­discuss­the 22nd,­buy­some­plants,­enjoy­tea­and changes­you­are­proposing­with­them­-­whether homemade­cakes­-­and­help­us­raise­even­more or­not­planning­permission­is­required.­Whilst money,­mainly­for­cancer­charities­including­St we­can­have­no­official­input­in­such­areas­we Christopher’s­Hospice.­­We­hope­to­see­you feel­that­by­encouraging­a­sense­of­community there. and­contact­between­neighbours­we­can­try­to Dave Lowe & Valerie Ward ensure­that­such­changes­are­done­with­sensitiv - Hamilton Lodge – a view from our councillor I’ve­read­with­dismay­recent­figures­obtained long-term­effects­on­homeless­families,­as­they through­the­Parliamentary­library­detailing­there are­often­shut­out­of­their­accommodation are­2,800­children­without­a­permanent­home­in during­the­day,­causing­huge­disruption­to­daily Lewisham­–­an­increase­of­almost­1,800­from routines­of­school­and­work.­­Every­child 18­months­earlier.­­Make­no­mistake­this­is­a deserves­a­decent­home­to­come­back­to­after London­wide­issue­with­a­total­of­80­per­cent­of school,­where­they­feel­secure,­and­where­they those­children­in­England­living­in­temporary can­sit­down­to­do­their­homework.­­That­is accommodation­found­in­the­capital. what­at­least­good­temporary­accommodation can­provide.­­It’s­heart-breaking­to­see­so­many I­believe­that­the­use­of­B&B­accommodation­is children­in­Lewisham­growing­up­without­the expensive,­inadequate,­and­has­unacceptable basic­necessity­of­their­own­home.­­Inequality­is Page: 2 Summer 2015 Views from the Hill robbing­these­children­of­their­childhood.­­This spaces­and­toilet­layout.­­I­will­continue­to is­why­I­believe­that­the­option­being­put monitor­any­pressure­that­the­proposed­usage­of forward­to­use­Hamilton­Lodge­for­temporary Hamilton­Lodge­may­or­not­place­upon­primary accommodation­over­the­next­5­years­is­a­better school­places­within­the­area. option­than­subjecting­families­to­B&B. I­will­also­work­with­the­Council, London­has­both­the­most­expensive­housing Safer­Neighbourhood­Team,­and and­the­largest­number­of­people­living­in local­residents­to­ensure­that­effec - poverty­in­Western­Europe­–­and­incomes­are tive­reporting­mechanisms­and falling­as­the­cost­of­housing­rises.­­The­Mayor tough­penalties­are­in­place­for­any of­Lewisham­has­taken­some­steps­in­address - person­found­to­be­contributing ing­the­issue­of­the­lack­of­permanent­housing towards­anti-social­behaviour within­the­Borough­-­we­have­started­to­build whilst­a­resident­of­Hamilton Council­homes­for­the­first­time­in­30­years Lodge. with­a­target­of­250­as­a­minimum­by­2017.­­I believe­we­need­a­long­term­aim­of­providing I­know­a­number­of­residents­may more­truly­affordable­housing­for­residents,­or not­agree­with­me,­but­I­would­like the­option­of­rents­that­people­can­actually to­assure­you­that­supporting­this afford­to­pay­on­tenancies­that­let­them­create­a scheme­is­not­a­decision­I­have home.