Photo credit: Oliver Cooper.
Opposition Conservative councillors in Greenwich have published an Amendment to a Town Hall motion on building safety, in an effort to help residents and campaigners at Royal Artillery Quays on Erebus Drive, West Thamesmead who have been campaigning for the Council to engage in the problem. The debate will be held at January's Full Council meeting on Wednesday 29 January.
The amendment, which has been developed with input and expertise from Royal Artillery Quays (RAQ) Residents Association, re-focuses a Labour motion calling for Government action on building safety to also address the specific challenges facing RAQ.
The move follows a row at the Town Hall last year, after Labour were accused of 'blocking' former West Thamesmead councillor Chris Lloyds' motion on Royal Artillery Quays building safety issues, by removing their support at the 11th hour.
Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition on Greenwich Council, said:
"The residents of Royal Artillery Quays have been left in an impossible situation, and campaigners have been working hard to get Greenwich Council to engage in this problem. Residents just want the Council to use their influence to help secure the right outcome from Barratt Redrow, which is to remove ALL combustible material from external walls and ensure the development receives an A1 EWS1 rating.
"Our amendment strengthens the motion that the Labour Group has brought forward, and returns it to the spirit of the motion that former Councillor Chris Lloyd worked with the Royal Artillery Quays Residents Association to develop last year.
"This is not a party political issue, and I hope we can vote unanimously to pass the amendment motion on building safety on Wednesday evening."
Read the Opposition Group's amendment here.
POST-MEETING UPDATE: Labour councillors voted against the Opposition Group’s amendment.