This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jan/05/princes-and-paupers-homeless-fear-windsor-has-social-cleansing-plan
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Princes and paupers: homeless fear Windsor has social cleansing plan | Princes and paupers: homeless fear Windsor has social cleansing plan |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The royal borough council leader’s calls for action against rough sleeping exposed the plight of the Queen’s poorest neighbours | |
| Harriet Sherwood | |
| Fri 5 Jan 2018 16.09 GMT | |
| Last modified on Fri 5 Jan 2018 16.52 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Windsor is a town dominated by the home of its most famous resident, the Queen. The castle’s 11th-century battlements loom over cobbled streets and liveried functionaries direct the 7 million tourists that visit each year. | Windsor is a town dominated by the home of its most famous resident, the Queen. The castle’s 11th-century battlements loom over cobbled streets and liveried functionaries direct the 7 million tourists that visit each year. |
| Britain’s premier private school, Eton College, Ascot racecourse and other high-profile residents such as the pop star Elton John and actor Daniel Craig add to its image as a stronghold of privilege and affluence. | Britain’s premier private school, Eton College, Ascot racecourse and other high-profile residents such as the pop star Elton John and actor Daniel Craig add to its image as a stronghold of privilege and affluence. |
| But there is a different side to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), revealed this week after its council leader, Simon Dudley, urged police to act against rough sleepers before the royal wedding in May. | But there is a different side to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), revealed this week after its council leader, Simon Dudley, urged police to act against rough sleepers before the royal wedding in May. |
| Like its west London counterpart, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where last summer’s Grenfell Tower fire exposed stark inequalities and an out-of-touch political leadership, RBWM has pockets of disadvantage. | Like its west London counterpart, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where last summer’s Grenfell Tower fire exposed stark inequalities and an out-of-touch political leadership, RBWM has pockets of disadvantage. |
| And a councillor from a neighbouring town and some rough sleepers have accused the borough of social cleansing. | And a councillor from a neighbouring town and some rough sleepers have accused the borough of social cleansing. |
| According to council data, the most deprived ward is Oldfield, on the outskirts of Maidenhead. There 13.3% of children are at risk of living in poverty, compared with a borough average of 9%. The most common type of home in Oldfield is “purpose-built blocks of flats or tenements” at 40% of all housing, according to the council. | According to council data, the most deprived ward is Oldfield, on the outskirts of Maidenhead. There 13.3% of children are at risk of living in poverty, compared with a borough average of 9%. The most common type of home in Oldfield is “purpose-built blocks of flats or tenements” at 40% of all housing, according to the council. |
| Within Windsor itself, 14.2% of children in the ward of Clewer North are at risk of living in poverty and 8.4% of the working-age population claim benefits, compared with a borough average of 5.5%. | Within Windsor itself, 14.2% of children in the ward of Clewer North are at risk of living in poverty and 8.4% of the working-age population claim benefits, compared with a borough average of 5.5%. |
| A few miles away, Sunningdale, where gated estates and mansion-style houses nestle in woodland, is the borough’s most affluent ward. The average price paid for a house here in the past six months is over £1m, and detached homes make up 43% of all housing. | A few miles away, Sunningdale, where gated estates and mansion-style houses nestle in woodland, is the borough’s most affluent ward. The average price paid for a house here in the past six months is over £1m, and detached homes make up 43% of all housing. |
| Across the borough, the average house price in 2017 was £609,194 – more than twice the national average, and 13 times the local average salary. The average rent for a one-bedroom flat was £972 per month. | Across the borough, the average house price in 2017 was £609,194 – more than twice the national average, and 13 times the local average salary. The average rent for a one-bedroom flat was £972 per month. |
| Yet RBWM owns no social housing, having transferred its housing stock to two housing associations, Housing Solutions and Radian. The council said 702 people were currently on its housing needs list. | Yet RBWM owns no social housing, having transferred its housing stock to two housing associations, Housing Solutions and Radian. The council said 702 people were currently on its housing needs list. |
| In its local plan for 2013-2033, the council acknowledged its housing challenges. “The borough is one of the most unaffordable areas of the country, both for rented and property purchase. Affordability is therefore a particular issue in the royal borough,” it said. | In its local plan for 2013-2033, the council acknowledged its housing challenges. “The borough is one of the most unaffordable areas of the country, both for rented and property purchase. Affordability is therefore a particular issue in the royal borough,” it said. |
| It has set a target of 30% “affordable housing” in new town centre developments. But critics say “affordable housing” – which often means shared ownership or 80% of the average local market rental – is still beyond the means of many people in housing need. | It has set a target of 30% “affordable housing” in new town centre developments. But critics say “affordable housing” – which often means shared ownership or 80% of the average local market rental – is still beyond the means of many people in housing need. |
| The number of people sleeping rough in Windsor has increased over recent months, according to police and local councillors. The Guardian counted at least 10 people living on the streets within a few hundred yards this week. | The number of people sleeping rough in Windsor has increased over recent months, according to police and local councillors. The Guardian counted at least 10 people living on the streets within a few hundred yards this week. |
| According to Murphy James of the Windsor Homelessness Project, the “hidden homeless” – people sleeping on friends’ or relatives’ sofas, for example – were being “swept on to the streets” because long-term solutions were not available. The project now had 40-50 people on its books, he said. | According to Murphy James of the Windsor Homelessness Project, the “hidden homeless” – people sleeping on friends’ or relatives’ sofas, for example – were being “swept on to the streets” because long-term solutions were not available. The project now had 40-50 people on its books, he said. |
| The council says it offers rough sleepers a night shelter open 365 days a year, plus drug, alcohol and mental health support. It has also offered some single male rough sleepers accommodation in Southall, more than 12 miles away. | The council says it offers rough sleepers a night shelter open 365 days a year, plus drug, alcohol and mental health support. It has also offered some single male rough sleepers accommodation in Southall, more than 12 miles away. |
| Homeless people that the Guardian spoke to this week said they had been offered accommodation in Slough and Reading, claiming the council wanted rid of them. | Homeless people that the Guardian spoke to this week said they had been offered accommodation in Slough and Reading, claiming the council wanted rid of them. |
| A councillor from Slough has accused RBWM of “social cleansing” over its failure to provide social housing, forcing people to move elsewhere. | A councillor from Slough has accused RBWM of “social cleansing” over its failure to provide social housing, forcing people to move elsewhere. |
| Labour councillor James Swindlehurst has said RBWM’s attempts to “export the poor people” were offensive. | Labour councillor James Swindlehurst has said RBWM’s attempts to “export the poor people” were offensive. |
| “This is a deliberate strategy of theirs that’s been going on for the past 20 to 25 years. They know what they’re doing. They know what their desired clientele is and who should live there,” Swindlehurst said in August. | “This is a deliberate strategy of theirs that’s been going on for the past 20 to 25 years. They know what they’re doing. They know what their desired clientele is and who should live there,” Swindlehurst said in August. |
| As well as being the Conservative leader of RBWM, Dudley sits on the board of the government’s Homes and Communities Agency, for which he receives a director’s allowance of up to £20,000 a year. | As well as being the Conservative leader of RBWM, Dudley sits on the board of the government’s Homes and Communities Agency, for which he receives a director’s allowance of up to £20,000 a year. |
| Part of the agency’s remit is to support “rough sleepers, those at risk of sleeping rough, and other non-statutory homeless people”. | Part of the agency’s remit is to support “rough sleepers, those at risk of sleeping rough, and other non-statutory homeless people”. |
| Dudley has not returned to Windsor and Maidenhead since taking a skiing holiday in the US over Christmas. | Dudley has not returned to Windsor and Maidenhead since taking a skiing holiday in the US over Christmas. |
| Homelessness | |
| Inequality | |
| Housing | |
| Poverty | |
| Social exclusion | |
| Monarchy | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |