I need to correct the statements made in Councillor Shields’ letter (Letter was most ironic, May 21).

The council offered a very good deal to the residents of Green Wrythe Lane so that defective properties could be demolished and new affordable houses built to replace them.

The freeholders were offered a new house as a straight swap for their own, on the same site if that was what they wanted.

This would mean they would own a property with a value significantly more than their existing property.

Our offer has been referenced as a very good deal and good practice by experts, and by residents in other boroughs campaigning for similar deals.

Unfortunately, many of the residents were badly advised not to engage with the council and were therefore kept in the dark about the offer, which meant that some residents missed the deadline for expressing an interest and so missed the opportunity to choose from a wider range of sites. Fortunately, we were still able to proceed with offering those that did want to stay a swap on one of the sites.

The irony is that it is the Human Rights Act that prevents abuse of citizens’ rights by local authorities, and the Conservatives in Government intend to scrap this protection.

COUNCILLOR JAYNE MCCOY
Liberal Democrat Wallington South