BRITAIN ON THE BRINK AND CARLISLE ON THE BRINK

QUESTIONS

OVER EUROPE,

QUESTIONS OVER

RIVERSIDE

The  Riverside fiasco is a bit like what`s happening today over Europe. Just as the questions are now increasing about how  much longer Britain can stay in Europe,  questions  are now increasing about just how long Carlisle can stay with Riverside Housing Association.

New boss Jean-Claude Juncker

In Brussels, David Cameron said  Britain had moved closer to  leaving the European Union.

In Cumbria,  Riverside tenants were told that Riverside  is facing massive problems  that  threaten  the very existence of its Carlisle operations.

Old boss Patrick Leonard

David Cameron`s problems come from his failure to block a new boss for Europe, Jean-Claude Juncker, who as result, won the election to become the new president of the EU.

Riverside`s problems, it is claimed, come from the time of the old boss, Mr Patrick Leonard who tried to be elected Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner and said he hoped to run that job alongside his Riverside job of Carlisle regional director. He resigned soon afterwards.

That resignation and the obvious questions about Mr Leonard`s judgement have been followed by other serious questions  about the judgement and ability of its top officials and whether Riverside is now up to the job of running the 6,200 former Carlisle council houses it took over eleven years ago

Should Riverside now clear out  of Carlisle and go back  to Liverpool?

Riverside`s 200 leaseholders certainly think it should go and are increasingly critical  of  its management and  its rocketing charges.

And  the despairing Longtown tenants certainly think Riverside should go as they face up to their many problems caused by Riverside`s dodgy heating systems. This week it was reported these systems are resulting in energy bills of £900 a quarter for one house.

Nearly thirty of these tenants came together again  a couple of days ago to continue their fight for proper heating.

 It was the fourth meeting of tenants run by Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation which has been spear-heading the fight for four months.

For these tenants, the meeting was an eye-opener. There were allegations  from a private investigator and  from a Riverside part- house owner from Hallbankgate.

These allegations explained  and backed up many of the suspicions  long held by the tenants about dodgy contractors , dodgy workmanship and  incompetent management in getting things put right.

The tenants hope to do their own spear-heading soon.

Their own newly-formed group, Longtown Action for Heat, plans its first public meeting on July 10.

Community Voice Carlisle is the blog of Carlisle Tenants`and Residents` Federation. Information about the Federation is available on the first post of this blog, dated March 25 2013.