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Councillor told temporary accommodation resident of squalid London block to ‘move someplace cheaper’
A Conservative councillor accused a woman living in temporary accommodation at a squalid north London block of “living for free” and told her to “move someplace cheaper”.
Inside Housing has heard a recording of Helene Richman, who sits on the committee at Barnet Council that scrutinises councillors’ conduct, in which she says to a resident of Marsh Drive: “We don’t want to pay for you to live for free your whole life because you don’t have a job.”
When the resident retorts that she does have a job, Ms Richman replies: “Then move… move someplace cheaper.”
Ms Richman told Inside Housing that she was sorry for any offence caused and that the comments did not reflect how seriously she took the concerns of residents at Marsh Drive.
It is understood that the resident had confronted the councillor about poor conditions at Marsh Drive, a council-owned block of flats in Ms Richman’s ward, while attending a general election hustings event in December.
Marsh Drive gained national attention in October when a resident whose baby had been bitten on the eye by cockroaches was interviewed by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme.
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A clip from the programme, in which former Conservative Barnet mayor Brian Coleman said of residents that “the council owes them nothing”, has been viewed well over a million times on Twitter.
Watch this extraordinary exchange:
— Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE)
‘You should be ashamed,’@KenLoachSixteen
He challenges former Barnet councillor Brian Coleman who tries to defend the poor living conditions - cockroaches, damp and drug users, revealed in our film.t.co/UoDAu8mHy8 pic.twitter.com/YXAcHGMMRiWatch this extraordinary exchange:
— Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) October 29, 2019
‘You should be ashamed,’@KenLoachSixteen
He challenges former Barnet councillor Brian Coleman who tries to defend the poor living conditions - cockroaches, damp and drug users, revealed in our film.https://t.co/UoDAu8mHy8 pic.twitter.com/YXAcHGMMRi
Barnet Council’s ALMO, Barnet Homes, has apologised for unacceptable conditions at Marsh Drive and is taking steps to improve the block, which is set for closure in October.
In a statement provided by the Conservative group at Barnet Council, Ms Richman said: “I am of course very sorry for any offence that may have been taken to the recorded comments, which do not reflect how seriously I continue to take the concerns raised by the residents of Marsh Drive.
“As well as not representing my views, the comments in this recording absolutely do not represent the position of the council.”
Ms Richman is also a barrister specialising in property law.
A spokesperson for the Association of Marsh Drive Residents said: “It is so disappointing to be treated in this way by a person who was elected to represent us.”
A spokesperson for Conservative-run Barnet Council said: “The comments referred to were made by an individual councillor rather than reflecting the position of the council.
“The council takes its responsibilities for ensuring families are housed in suitable accommodation extremely seriously and we will continue to work with, and listen to, the residents of Marsh Drive.”
Update: at 8.28am 16/01/20 a comment from the Association of Marsh Drive Residents was added to the story.
