Octavia Hill Estates
the fight goes on

Over 100 hand-written letters were handed into Lambeth Palace on 20 June calling on the Archbishop to intervene in the controversy over plans for the Church Commissioners Octavia Hill Estates.

The letters were written by residents of the estates at a vigil outside the Archbishop's London home. Over 150 residents were joined by local MPs, GLA and Southwark councillors, clergy and members of General Synod.

One resident said "The Church Commissioners don't want us living here - they want us out, so they can let our flats for more money". Another told the Archbishop's representative, Bishop Richard Llewellin, that "The Commissioners' actions are causing me to seriously question my Christian faith."

Speaking on Radio 4 Bishop Tom said "We feel that such a dramatic change of policy will harm our urban mission and run the risk of bringing the church into disrepute.

"The church is using its money well in maintaining stable inner city communities. We, in Southwark, invest a lot of our resources into that inner city mission and we see that money being wasted if this policy is acted upon."

As a result of the growing controversy, the Church Commissioners' final decision on the future of the estates has been postponed to the Autumn and the issue will be raised at the July General Synod in York.