Forum Topic

London Riots Aftermath

There was an excellent programme on BBC3 last night which centred on the aftermath of the London Riots and followed both the victims AND the perpetrators.2x Ealing people were featured - Leni Hazlitt, whos flat above the Londis store was burnt out, and Zakar Hussain, who had put his life savings into the Mango Café which was flooded due to the water pumped into the adjacent buildings. Both of whom are still struggling almost a year on, which makes me feel sick and is WRONG!How can we let this happen to our community ? OK, whilst the riots were in full flow there was little that we could do apart from wait for the authorities to restore order, but afterwards - we could have and should have done more. I was touched by the numbers that went to Ealing to help with the clean up. But seeing people like Leni and Zakar still suffer is wrong (and there are more people – e.g. owners of the Londis store who I understand are on the breadline). We should be lobbying MP's to push insurance companies or whatever is in the way of getting these peoples’ lives back to where they were before the riots. Or should we ? Are our MP’s doing us a service if they’re not spending every waking hour working for their constituents ? They’re quick enough to tell us what we want to hear in those dark days in order to score political points, but for me, actions count!! All I see from these people are irritating posts on Ealing Today / Twitter about the rubbish situation where they're trying to point score off one another. This is nothing in comparison to people who’s quality of life has been compromised.I want to see an MP who cares - genuinely cares. Who'll go the extra mile for his constituents. Who'll roll their sleeves up and do the dirty work. Who'll creat whatever shit storm is required to get the right focus. Sadly, with the wet blankets we have in power in Ealing, I do not feel that we have that person.Am I wrong in saying that we have forgotten about the riots and those that have been affected ?

Bud Richards ● 5047d10 Comments

Hi Chris,"We need to be lobbying the insurers to speed things up if we want to help our neighbours..."That's my point - we shouldn't have to lobby the insurers - our MP should. Clearly not well enough if Angie, as you have said, has done already.P.S - loved your first album!

Bud Richards ● 5046d

It took me about 2 seconds with google to find the things Angie Bray (our local MP) has done to try and sort out the issues arising from the riot damaged. Aside from raising the tardy responses from insurers in the House of Commons, she has already met the Assoc. British Insurers to tell them to get their act together.It's a but disappointing that some people on this thread are so quick to question whether our local officials are doing enough when the info on what they have done and are continuing to do is so easily accessible. Ultimately the government can't step in with cash payouts when there are already claims being dealt with by insurers - in the small number of instances where people and businesses weren't insured the restoration fund has already paid out. We need to be lobbying the insurers to speed things up if we want to help our neighbours.

Chris Martin ● 5046d

"We the undersigned call upon our elected representatives to show positive and practical support for those still affected by the riots and civil disturbance in Ealing during August 2011. This would include, but is not limited to, ensuring that all affected businesses are helped to access the Government Recovery Fund and that individuals whose homes were damaged and destroyed are offered practical and free financial assistance to cover any shortfall in insurances."

Nigel Brooks ● 5047d

Os, thanks!Mayor Boris popped along to see them and promised the world I believe. Would be great if something could get moving!!

Bud Richards ● 5047d

Bud Richards has highlighted the sad plight of two Ealing Residents ,namely " Zakar Hussain and Leni Hazlitt. He decribes the event in a very poignant way. I hope the Local Govt officials in our borough will visit them to see what couild be done to minimise their trauma.Surely extending some relief is within their remit

Os A Whittle ● 5047d

I'm inclined to agree, MPs for affected constituencies like this one might reasonably be expected to be proactive on bahalf of their constituent victims without being asked - but as said I don't know the facts in this case so can't comment on the specifics.

Chris Veasey ● 5047d

Thanks Nigel - we're definitely on the same wavelenght here. I'd happily work on a petition if someone could help me with the wording ?

Bud Richards ● 5047d

BudYou sum up your whole post in two words. "Actions count".I could have wept for Leni when she said (sic) "it wasn't much but it was all we had". How can our supposed representative let the innocent continue to suffer?The ineffective (remember they were going to rent the owners of the Londis a new shop to help them, but didn't) bunch occupying the Town Hall and Perceval House are hardly likely to be proactive.What do we do, start an online petition? No effect at a central level until it gets 100,000 signatures. Get 5,000 signatures (or whatever the number is since the Labour group increased it) to ensure debate at council. Debate is all we get and no bloody action. It would take one focussed councillor to get this moving.How about it Councillors Potts, Scott or Young?

Nigel Brooks ● 5047d

Hi Chris,Yes, I see your point. I think a lot of people who go into politics (prepared to be corrected) do not do it for a career or huge money but rather, for a cause. I just beleive that if I were doing that job, I would make sure that my constitents who were all affected by these riots, had my full backing and commitment and that I'd done what was required to get them back on their feet again. Clearly, in the case of Leni and Zakar, this is not the case

Bud Richards ● 5047d

Yes it's a scandal and an outrage, but all too typical our ruling classes as a class to let this sort of thing happen - and no, many of us haven't forgotten.I've no idea what if anything the MP (Angie Bray) for this constituency (Ealing Central and Acton) is trying to do about it, or indeed if the victims have asked her to.But I'd hate to live in a society in which anybody (other than grotesquely overpaid bankers and suchlike) were expected to 'spend every waking hour working' - MP's are paid reasonably well but not excessively like bankers and some others, and those representing constituencies in or near London have to spend far less time and energy travelling than other MPs, and yes we are entitled to expect them to work hard and diligently for us -  but even they are entitled to a bit of a life and some time off work accordingly, aren't they?

Chris Veasey ● 5047d