Frank Dobson opens Dobson Court

• IN reaction to new council homes being built, Conservative agent David Douglas asked but “what about us?”, (Estate named after ex-MP who has homes obsession – What about Geoffrey? March 15).

Rather than celebrate new council housing, or support the democratic decision of tenants to name the block after Frank Dobson, the Tories are, as usual, more obsessed with themselves.

Frank Dobson our former long-serving MP rightly deserves this recognition. He was a champion of social housing, and with his colleagues on the council, successfully expanded social housing for future generations, buying up swathes of properties in the 1970s.

Rather than worry about the council disrespecting the Conservative party, the local Tories would do better to concern themselves about the impacts of continued austerity as a result of their party’s policies; soaring rough-sleeping, the impacts of universal credit, an NHS struggling to get through the winter.

Perhaps we should add their names to one of the many former council homes flogged-off by the Tories at auction, when they last ran the council. This would be a permanent reminder of their terrible record of housing delivery in Camden.

Nationally, too, they have cut investment in affordable housing as well as school building, leaving Camden and our residents to pick up the pieces.

Our Community Investment Programme has so far delivered 229 council homes at Bourne and Maiden Lane estates, for example, with millions invested into our schools, such as the recent opening of Kingsgate School.

Residents in Bourne estate have chosen to mark Frank Dobson’s fine record. Residents in Camden now also have their chance to compare the records on housing, of the Labour council and the Tories, and can deliver their verdict on May 3.

CLLR DANNY BEALES
Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities