All spruced up 'in time for elections'

All spruced up 'in time for elections'

Monday, 07 September 2009

By Greg Truscott

A TOWN hall is to spruce up neighbourhoods in marginal wards in the run-up to an election, it has been alleged.

Labour-run Lambeth is to spend £3.1million on environmental improvements to neighbourhoods and estates in seven Labour-controlled wards and one politically split ward.

The areas will benefit from new pavements and trees between now and the next local government election in May next year.

Just £400,000 will be spent on other wards, it is claimed.

The work – which has already begun – will take place in: Clapham, including the Heath and Westbury Estates; Brixton Hill, including the Blenheim Gardens Estate; Kennington, including the Ethelred Estate; South Lambeth, including South Lambeth and Caldwell Gardens Estates; Clapham South, including the Poynders Estate; and Streatham Vale.

Opposition Liberal Democrat Councillor Julian Heather pointed out almost all of the neighbourhoods are in Labour-controlled wards.

He said: “Almost 90 per cent of the funding has been targeted at seven Labour-held marginal wards.

“I have obtained emails between council officers under the Freedom of Information Act and it is clear they got a steer from Labour councillors on where the funding should be spent.

“They show other neighbourhoods and estates in other areas were considered but dropped after discussions with Labour members.

“I’m not suggesting that the officers involved were politically motivated, but what I do believe is that there has been political manipulation of officers which has resulted in expenditure being targeted at Labour-held marginal wards.”

Cllr Heather has written to Lambeth’s chief executive Derrick Anderson calling on him to investigate how the funding was allocated.

A Lambeth spokesman said the areas chosen for improvements were selected because they were in the greatest need of improvement.

He said: “We are focusing work on priority areas where the extra money will have the most impact, but this project will make a difference to everyone in Lambeth.

“New trees are being planted in every ward across the borough and Green Community Champions are being recruited borough-wide to help neighbourhoods become more sustainable.”

Email: greg.truscott@slp.co.uk