Excalibur Prefab Estate Catford
Long Live Excalibur
THE CAMPAIGN
Stock Transfer.
Whether stock transfer goes ahead on the Excalibur prefab estate will depend on a ballot of the tenants of this estate. The Ballot was due in April 2008, We was informed that this would not take place, why? Because the bullying, blackmail and intimidation, hasn’t gone to plan, it would appear that the residents of this estate are going to vote no to stock transfer and demolition. We was then informed that the ballot will now take place early Oct 2008, This was also cancelled, this was not the first dates and I am sure it wont be the last, the whole process has been a mismanaged joke, the ballot has been constantly moved or postponed and if Lewisham council wasn’t dealing with peoples lives and worries it would have been funny. We are now into our fourth year of worry and stress and the longer it is drawn out the more determined we become to stay and protect our historic homes. We have been told by Lewisham council (in writing) if we vote yes, the stock will be transferred to London & Quadrant, and the estate will be demolished, and if we vote no to stock transfer, the estate will be put forward for a regeneration scheme, Lewisham council will select a housing association of its choice, and the estate will be demolished,
so not really a choice at all is it?
Just a greedy grab for land,
What happened to Democracy? Dead and Buried Somewhere in Lewisham Council.
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-----------Culture ----------------Refurbishment ---------------Demolition
The Excalibur Prefab Estate is the largest now left in Europe. Europe values its war time history, we on the estate think it’s time we did to. First it was our culture, now we have to sit tight and watch our Historic Buildings be destroyed, In 20 years time we will all wonder what the Hell happened to England. Our Music, our Literature, our Social Welfare and Buildings are what made this country great, it is what attracted people to our shores; In the future, will there be anything left worth preserving? | The Excalibur estate is unique and has a sea-side quality and a village estate appeal about it, If you walk the estate you will find the residents cheerful and proud of their estate. The prefabs could easily be refurbished and at an affordable cost There are many terrible housing estates in and around London, but they have the privilege of refurbishment, Excalibur is a virtually crime free, village like estate, with a solid community, and we are to be demolished, Is there no sense left?
| Is cramming housing on to every space the answer? Regardless of what already occupies that space, Is this more important than community and history? The problem is the prefabs tend to occupy large flat sites, and are easy pickings for greedy developers. The prefabs would be easily demolished and the site is already laid out for all the services i.e. gas electricity etc. It is so sad to see how the members of this community have been bullied intimidated and blackmailed all in the name of housing, not fair is it? |
--------------------------------------Assurances
The prefabs were built on open space (parkland), Assurances were given by the LCC to the parks department that once the prefabs were removed the land would revert back to open space.
The residents are in possession of these very important historic documents.
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Below is a copy, and a reply, to one of the letters that stated assurances were required
Memorandum for the Housing & Public Health Committee From the Parks Committee London County Council Dated 1st December 1944 The Parks Committee have agreed to the proposed temporary use of the open space for the purposes suggested provided that the Housing & Public Health Committee give the Parks Committee an Assurance that on the removal of the Temporary houses the area already proposed as public open space will be surrendered for that purpose. | Reply to Memorandum dated 1st December 1944 From Housing & Public Health Committee Chairman. Dated 4th December 1944 The Housing & Public Health Committee are prepared to give an assurance that, on the removal of the temporary houses proposed to be erected on the land on the whitefoot lane section of Downham Estate, the site will be available for open space purposes. signed by Clerk of the Council | The Legal definition of the word assurances as stated in the World Dictionary To give Assurances Is a pledge or promise: a declaration that inspires or is intended to inspire confidence An undertaking: a solemn promise or vow To assure somebody that something will certainly happen or be done. Obviously the London borough of Lewisham’s version of the word Assurances is quite different from the rest of the world |
THE LAND
Our old map from the archives, Shows this estate as open space (parkland), but Lewisham Councils modified map has been changed, and shows us as being general housing.
The Archives show No public notice or notices has been listed or displayed regarding land rezoning of the prefabs or open space.
If the land has been legally re-zoned from open space (parkland) to general housing, the council would have had to lawfully display public notices to that effect.
It is our belief the correct procedure was not followed to Re-zone the land and no notices were ever posted, This did not allow the people on the estate or the surrounding area to lodge Objections to the changes.
My opinion is that Lewisham council has illegally turned parkland into valuable building land, and ignored planning application rules.
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Sites like the Excalibur prefab estate should be preserved for the wider community as a living museum and as a memorial to all who lost their lives during the Second World War.
The education of today’s generation could benefit from seeing our historic legacy.
A grab for land and a multi- million pound deal will be done -at the expense of our history.
If the London borough of Lewisham has it way this Historic estate will no longer exist, and in its place will be another inner city housing estate, and another piece of history gone forever
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