Haringey Council has come under severe criticism from Lynne Featherstone MP over the news that it will take almost 100 years for it to meet its local social housing needs.

Responding to facts uncovered in her Parliamentary Questions, Ms Featherstone comments:

“A child born today on Haringey’s housing waiting list should not have potentially to wait for a telegram from the Queen before they get a decent home.

“Failure is too softer a word for Haringey’s housing crisis – but a personal tragedy for every family stuck in temporary accommodation who have no real prospect of ever being properly housed any time soon by this council.”

Councillor Catherine Harris, Housing Spokesperson for Haringey Lib Dems added:

“Coming hot on the heals of Labour’s broken promises on decent homes by 2010, it is clear that they have no grip on the real housing problems of this borough.”

Notes:

1. The answer to a Parliamentary Question by Lynne Featherstone MP showing that between 1996-2006, 2,256 new social homes were built in Haringey, an average of 226 a year, is here.

2. The answer to a Parliamentary Question by Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow MP showing that 19,930 families were on the Housing Waiting List in Haringey is here.

3. Therefore at a current rate of 226 homes per annum it would take 88.2 years to build homes for all families on the Haringey Waiting List.