• KEMP House residents have reached breaking point.

After more than two years of fairly consistent misery (and in the shadow of recent events highlighting local government’s inadequate protection of residents), representatives walked out of a monthly meeting dealing with issues relating to the redevelopment under our tower block in Soho’s Berwick Street.

The walk-out was prompted by a set of draft minutes that substantially misrepresented the previous meeting. These were sent out the afternoon before the next meeting, giving residents only one night to read and respond to them, which was no small task.

We have been dealing with organisations that pride themselves on a public image that radiates competence, professional­­ism and public service.

Our experience has been anything but.

Who are the guilty parties?

Westminster Council and CityWest Homes are both public bodies.

Peter Beckwith’s company PMB Holdings and various others playing a part in PMB’s redevelopment scheme, including GVA Second London Wall, Southern Demolition, Interserve and CommComm UK, are all commercial businesses.

Between them, despite what they have said to us, they have frequently proved to be disinterested, disorganised or disingen­u­ous. Residents have been left feeling under siege and unsupported. Kemp House residents are not the only people to be critical of this particular development. Councillor Paul Church (Conservative) wrote recently: “This development is the last thing Soho needs and I am so very sorry that it got planning permission in the first place.”

We appeal to the council to stop paying lip-service and to start listening properly to residents who have much to offer in improving our communities.

CityWest Homes claim they are going through a major process of transformation. This is desperately needed. There is a long way for them to go.

As for PMB, it is not too late for Peter Beckwith to step in and provide the quality of consideration for residents that his executives have utterly failed to do, the consideration he would wish to see if the project was taking place on his own doorstep, with his own family suffering.

SIMON EGERTON
Chair, Kemp House Residents Association