Dumbarton Court is the attractive art-deco block near the top
end of Brixton Hill. I’ve been working to improve life for
the people who live there for well over ten years now, but one
thing we still haven’t won is funding for new windows. But
we’re not giving up! On Friday morning I met with June and
Helen, two leaders of the estate’s residents association, to
discuss what more we could do.
While the Lib Dems were running our council until 2006, they
refused to put in a bid for Government funding to meet the new
‘Decent Homes’ minimum standards. With Lambeth £250m short of
what it needs, that was a very foolish mistake. With Labour
back in charge, that bid has now gone in and we’re waiting for a
decision from the Government – which I hope won’t be too long in
coming! With that extra money, there’s real hope we can find
the money we need to replace the old metal windows in Dumbarton
Court.
June and Helen explained to me how the old windows have become
cold and draughty and how, every morning, residents have to wash
pools of water off the windowsills where condensation has run down
the windows. People are desperate for double glazing which
will keep their flats warmer but also cut down on energy
loss.
I explained that not only has Labour put in the bid for funding
that the Lib Dems refused to do, but that I had personally gone to
see the Minister for Local Government, John Healey MP, just days
earlier to ask for funding to be brought forward precisely so we
could move faster to pay for improvements such as those needed in
Dumbarton Court. With the scaffolding in place to replace the
windows, we’d also be able to clean up the walls, tidy up the
repointing between the brickwork, and give the outside balconies a
fresh coat of paint. In all, the cost will be around £1
million.
I’m still waiting to hear back from Mr Healey, but I hope the
money will come through faster, and when it does I will keep
fighting hard for Dumbarton Court to get their fair share so we can
finally put in the new double glazing people living there need.
 Visiting Dumbarton Court on Brixton Hill
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