By Kaye Wiggins
Lambeth council is set to move homeless families to the seaside town of Margate, citing a shortage of temporary accommodation in the borough.
The Labour-run authority has set up a voluntary scheme in which people housed in temporary accommodation in the borough will be asked whether they want to move to the town in Kent.
The council has not responded to questions about how many residents could be moved or whether it has consulted Thanet or Kent councils about the scheme.
However, a spokesman said: “It is important to be clear that this is being done on a voluntary basis. If a resident declines the offer to move to Kent, they would not be forced to do so.”
He said the council faced a shortage of temporary accommodation and “would welcome any funding support from central government to help us provide homes for those in need.”
UPDATE: A Lambeth council spokesman has said it was offered 29 units
in Margate and has chosen to use four of these.
A version of this story first appeared at Local Government Chronicle.
good. you are either homeless or you are not.. if you are you can go where we have space and can afford to put you.. end of story.
bloody cheek people have..