Give credit where its due
Dear Sir, I agree unreservedly with your readers who urge the council to retain its housing stock (Join us to save housing stock, January 16). However, in a little publicised project to allow them to escape the grip of their predatory new bosess, Paddington Churches Housing Association, the deputy leader of Camden urged a group of West Hampstead Housing Association tenants to form a housing co-operative, and this has been done. In comparison to the recent disastrous "Messina 7" refurbishment, savings of 70% may be achievable through the use of cooperation, intelligent use of resources and environmental design. This may turn out to be a pathfinding initiative, and at a time when everyone is throwing bricks at the council, we should all have the statesmanship to give credit where it is due, and congratulate Cllr John Dickie on his inventive intervention. This project could even form the basis of a pseudo franchised system to bring its benefits to more council tenants in a safe and secure manner.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Rutherford Chair, WHHA T.A. (in exile)
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