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Select Committee looking into demolition of the East Marsh tower blocks could prove a powerful ally of local residents

by Steve Beasant on 22 October, 2014

At a meeting of East Marsh Involve to consult with residents of the High Rise Neighbourhood both Councillor Steve Beasant and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate Melanie Onn addressed the meeting.

Speaking after the Chair of East Marsh Involve, John Harrison had welcomed local residents to the Consultation Event, Steve said: “I am not going to speak for long tonight, because tonight this is your meeting.

“As your representatives we are working very hard behind the scenes, it might not look like it but we are doing all that we can do.

“Only within the last few days, I managed to persuade North East Lincolnshire Council’s Cabinet to set up a Select Committee and this will report back in mid-December.

“That’s why we want to hear your views.”

Nelson

The Grimsby Telegraph reports today:

While some remained defiant and insisted they would not leave, others admitted that the stress and anxiety caused by the situation was tempting them to accept a new home – however reluctantly.

But speaking at the meeting at the Crows Nest in Nelson House, one of the six blocks affected, Ms Onn said: “You might think it’s game over. I don’t think you should give up on this.”

She urged tenants to write to members of the Shoreline board and invite them to attend a public meeting to justify their decision, adding: “We have never seen anyone from the board.

“They have never spoken to us. They have never heard your experiences.”

She also encouraged them not to accept new homes they were not happy with, adding: “I think you are being shoved out the door to be honest.”

Philip Booth, 46, claimed his mother had been told she needed to be out of her Nelson House flat by Christmas.

Thesiger House resident Les Windsor told the meeting he had asked Shoreline chief executive Tony Bramley to attend a public meeting with residents.

“He said to what purpose? I don’t know why he’s running scared or won’t meet me.

“On Friday I was offered a two-bedroom bungalow in Laceby. I said ‘ram it’.”

Another resident said he had been offered properties in Immingham, Scunthorpe and Ashby cum Fenby, but insisted: “One thing I’m not going to do is move out there.”

Ray Parks, 71, of Nelson House, said he had turned down a property in Tetney because it was too far away from the local shops.

He added: “We don’t want to move. We are not being forced to but we are being cajoled at least.”

“If they offered me somewhere I want I would go tomorrow. But I won’t walk away and leave you. I will stay here and fight with you.”

He added: “It’s a shame there’s not a quicker fix because the longer it goes on, the more anxious and worried people are going to get.”

Rose Selway, 59, of Garibaldi House, said: “I am so upset about having to move and I don’t know where they are going to put me. It has affected me quite a lot. I had to fight for a new kitchen and a new wet room and I just can’t fight anymore.”

Billy Miller, whose aunt lives in one of the tower blocks, said: “I get a real sense that Shoreline are picking you off one by one.

“There’s a real sense of community here and I think that’s your strength. If you are going to act and really step this up you have to stand together and operate as a community.”

Margaret Smith, 84, of Nelson House, said: “I thought this was our retirement. Now they are chucking us on the streets. They are not chucking me on the streets.”

Louise Parker, 48, of Thesiger House, said: “It’s not fair. It’s my home. It’s where I feel safe. Nobody’s going to burgle me through my kitchen window unless they have got a very long ladder. They need to speak to us and find out we are real people.”

Another resident added: “Nelson House is not just a block. It is a functioning community.”

In a message to Shoreline, Chris Taylor, a committee member of East Marsh Involve, said: “Please take note of real people that are going to have real suffering.”

Mr Beasant said a select committee of councillors would be set up to scrutinise Shoreline’s decision to demolish the flats, adding: “If the evidence is strong enough and powerful enough, Shoreline will find it very difficult to ignore.”

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