HONG KONG PROTESTS...AND PROTESTS HERE AT HOME

PROMISES THAT 

RIVERSIDE

FAILED TO

DELIVER ON

The Hong Kong protests go on, while here in Carlisle also there are continued protests. In Hong Kong the protests are about broken promises. And it is also broken promises which are causing the Carlisle protests.

In Hong Kong (above) the promise of democratic elections came in 1997 with Britain`s handover of the territory to China. In Carlisle, the promises were made four years later with  the handover of the city`s council houses to a massive Liverpool property development organisation, Riverside Housing Association.

Unlike Hong Kong, no protesters in the streets in Carlisle. But as the city`s 6,200 Riverside  tenants and 270 leaseholders struggle with rocketing Riverside bills and harmful and inexplicable Riverside practices, they also protest  to M.P.s and others about Riverside`s handover promises that were broken.

In Carlisle, the protesters say....we were promised a Carlisle-based organisation, independent of Riverside- with decisions made in the city by the specially-formed local Carlisle Housing Association. But that association disappeared and Riverside took its place with  policy decisions made 100 miles away.

We were promised that local contractors would be chosen for  work on the properties. But most contractors chosen by Riverside now come from 100 miles away and further.

We were promised that rents would not rise above inflation. But Riverside rents  have rocketed and are now 30 per cent more than Barrow where the houses remained in council control.

Last week, a group of leaseholders waited outside Carlisle County Court. They discussed these broken Riverside promises and the discontent they have caused.

Inside the court, private talks were taking place to settle the case that had brought them to the court in support of fellow leaseholders Malcolm Craik and Billy Lyon who were being sued by Riverside.

When the case finished, the group of leaseholders had more reasons to be discontented.They learned that Riverside was legally not competent, and the case, according to the judge, was a complete mess.

More than that, according to the judge, Riverside  apparently has money to burn and is prepared to spend £3,500  in legal fees, plus goodness knows how many man hours by its  staff,  just to get entrance to a couple of flats... instead of what it takes in commonsense negotiating.

In Hong Kong, the protests go on. In Carlisle, the protests go on.