A protest against Haringey Council’s HDV (Haringey Development Vehicle) project to transfer ownership of thousands of council houses to a public-private partnership for demolition and ‘redevelopment’ went ahead last night, in spite of the partial victory represented by council leader Claire Kober’s plan to stand down in May’s local elections and leave a final decision on the project to a new – and probably anti-HDV – council.
The protest saw a large turnout, with activists from all parties and none represented:
The protest saw local residents speak of the reasons for their opposition to the project – which activists say does not guarantee new social housing will be rebuilt, in spite of council claims about ‘affordable housing’.
Those reasons have nothing to do with party politics or factionalism:
Moriam Islam resident of Northumberland Park explaining why she opposes the demolition of her home & estate #StopHDV pic.twitter.com/09C9evsg93
— StopHDV (@StopHDV) February 7, 2018
Campaigners were dealt a blow this morning with news that judgment in a legal case against the HDV had gone against them. The ‘StopHDV’ campaign has announced that it will appeal the decision.
However, after Haringey council last night passed a compromise motion agreeing to remove criticism of the HDV but to put the project ‘on ice’ until after the local elections in May, it is hoped that the HDV can be finally killed off at that point, irrespective of legal action.
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Best of luck to Moriam Islam and all the protesters.