A frustrated resident made an Elvis Presley-like plea for Milton Keynes Council to stop talking and get on with the job of improving housing.
David Lee is well known in council circles for his role on the group Residents of Regeneration Estates (RoRE) – but this week he spoke to the ruling cabinet members to make a “personal rant”.
And just like the 1960s and 70s rock star’s song he appealed for a little less conversation, a little more action, please.
“The basic requirements of these estates are well known and have been repeated many times – to undo decades of neglect and poor maintenance,” he told Tuesday’s meeting.
“But instead of action, this council believes in talk – engagement!”
The council is consulting on its new approach to regeneration – including in Beanhill, Bradville, Coffee Hall, Netherfield, and Tinkers Bridge.
Those estates were in the original seven identified for “regeneration” which then included wholesale demolition.
The two other estates, Fullers Slade and the Lakes Estate, voted for a degree of demolition and new house building.
Mr Lee asked if the council had the money to deal with the mental health problems this new uncertainty would cause.
He said residents are “fed up with talk and repeating the same things – they want action!”
“In the street where I live the exterior woodwork of the council houses still rots, having not been painted now for 20 years,” he said.
“And the drains on the footpath are still blocked, just like they were during the floods of May 2018.”
Cllr Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East), the council’s cabinet member for housing said the new consultation is for a new approach to regeneration.
She said the new approach to regeneration isn’t about going in and knocking things down but including health and wellbeing, jobs and skills.
“Yes, housing is an element but so is health and wellbeing, so is jobs and skills.”
She added: “This administration believes that it is not enough to go in there and just talk about housing.
“If we are serious about regeneration and renewal we have to have this wider discussion and it’s not about the council telling residents, it’s about us working together.
“A lot of bridges were burned under a previous approach but this is a different approach.
“I do understand where the frustration is coming from and I think it’s up to us to prove that we are absolutely committed to this new approach.”
She added that the estates “are not going to be forgotten.”
