Recent rumours have come to light regarding complaints allegedly made by WERA to Morrison Facilities Services and Pinnacle PSG regarding the standard of cleaning on our estate. WERA now feel compelled to clarify that we have never had the need to complain about the cleaning service or the staff who clean our estate, and in fact management within Pinnacle PSG and Morrison Facilities Services are more than aware of our delight with the service and our dedicated staff. We have never had such a dedicated team cleaning our estate, and it is a privilege for us to work with them.
The recent sign replacement on the estate was part of a programme of works carried out by Lambeth Living to change old, out-dated ‘Lambeth Housing’ signs to the new branding for Lambeth Living, who manage our homes. It was agreed that the association would pay for the block signs to be replaced as so they matched the colours on the map signs put in place by Lambeth Living, to enable visitors to the estate to find their destination more easily.
The new noticeboards were placed around the estate after residents specified they wanted to be kept more involved, 
and asked for noticeboards. These can be used by residents as well as the association – all in all the new noticeboards have gone down well with residents, except the noticeboard at Dan Bryant House which was ripped down by vandals, this was reported to police and Lambeth Living.
Weir Estate Residents Association is run by volunteers who give up valuable time to try to support the community, by providing information and support to our community. We are trying to improve the environment on our estate; as such the new community garden recently launched was previously a disused corner of the estate, which has been regenerated. The estate is now safer since WERA lobbied Lambeth council regarding poor standards of doors and windows on the estate, these were subsequently replaced. WERA have paid for new play equipment for the estate play-park, and continue to work with councillors, police, Lambeth Living and the council on issues such as road safety, anti-social behaviour and services to residents. We are not responsible to go and get things changed, and sorted, but we lobby on behalf of residents, and can help residents with issues, and get problems solved.
At the recent opening of our community garden, our local MP, Chuka Umunna said “the residents association here really is an exemplar of best practice, and how to do it, how to roll your sleeves up and actually change your area… the WERA is working and changing the community, is all part of the co-operative council and what the co-operative council is all about… people totally underestimate the importance of green creative space like this”.
Our London Assembly member Val Shawcross said “One of the best assets this estate has is WERA, a group which actually sticks at things, and gets things done. So many people have contributed to the garden, all these lovely pieces of artwork, it’s not just a garden, it’s also a work of art…. as well as the herbs, vegetables and fruit, the key thing being grown here is the community… and the kids have been able to see how you can make something which is a problem into a big possibility.”
The age old statement has always been, “residents associations don’t do anything for me”; but this sort of negativity spreads even more negativity. Do these people attend meetings, or try to be involved? If so, they may well have heard their issues raised regularly and letters and complaints passed to officials.
Not everything can be done instantly, processes and procedures have to be followed and can mean some issues take months or even years to resolve, such as WERA’s continued lobbying for the extension to the 255 bus route.; but this doesn’t mean we haven’t continuously been chasing these issues for results.
So why not come along, and help your local residents association, and see how your contribution can help your local community. Our next meeting is in The Weir Link, on Wednesday, 14thNovember at 7.30pm.
Our full calendar of meetings can be found here
