Letter to Mayor about Livable Streets in Tower Hamlets

Below is my letter to the Mayor highlighting the concerns about the Program expressed by many in our BAME and working-class communities about the Livable Streets Programme, with many seeing it as a tool for gentrification and social cleansing. The letter also proposes a way forward in addressing those concerns.

BY EMAIL: [email protected]

Dear John,

RE: Addressing anxiety in our Working-Class and BAME Communities in regard to the Livable Streets Program

Further to concerns raised at a full council meeting on the 11th of March 2020, I am writing to you to raise concerns and highlight the anxiety in our working-class communities and BAME in regard to the Livable Street Programs, especially the lack of transparency and opaque nature of the consultation, for example, the fact that there is no option to object to the proposals. Many residents seeing the proposals as an aid to social cleansing and gentrification of what was historically working-class communities.

This anxiety comes in the wake of the high number of COVID-19 death rates. This has been extensively reported on in the media, as well as an analysis published by the IFS (Institute of Fiscal Studies), ONS (Office of National Statistics) and the latest report by PHE (Public Health England).

Therefore, in light of the above concerns, I would like for you and the administration to consider the following proposals as a way of addressing this anxiety, of establishing a transparent and public reasoned approach to the Livable Streets Program:

A Moratorium in the roll-out of the program
An Equality Impact Assessment to be carried out with a particular focus on Socio-Economic Inequalities as per Part 1 of the Single Equalities Act 2010, a practice established by the Scottish Government as part of its Fairer Scotland Duty (https://www.gov.scot/publications/fairer-scotland-duty-interim-guidance-public-bodies/pages/2/)
The full Equality Impact Assessment to be published.
The Consultation to be carried out addressing the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment in addition to any proposals.
For the sake of transparency the Council to publish any input into the Livable Streets Program by any Property Developers, Major Landlords or Major Landholding entities.

In addition, I would like to bring to your attention to a recent report by the Institute of Race Relations, the ‘London Clearances’ which on a policy basis look at approaches to regeneration in London for the past decade which has resulted in the dismantling of working-class and BAME communities throughout London (http://www.irr.org.uk/news/the-london-clearances-a-background-paper-on-race-housing-and-policing/):

“regeneration’ appears to be directed at the wholesale physical dispossession of BAME and working-class residents from council and other forms of public housing. This perfect storm of mutually-reinforcing policies is now being brought to bear on a new generation of young black people.”

Look forward to your response to the above.

With Regards,

Cllr Puru Miah

Mile End

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Further Information

? Residents Campaign Facebook Group (leave a message to be contacted by organisers)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/289763665559940/

? Residents Petition to Council

https://bit.ly/3eSzGSQ

? Council Information on Livable Streets

https://bit.ly/3jtRg38