Sour taste over home sweet homes

Despite the intervention of Shailesh Vara MP the Government, in the shape of the Ministry of Defence, is going ahead with its monstrous plan to evict families from their homes in Wittering.

Credit to Mr Vara for standing up for his constituents. It’s good to see he’s exploring a possible solution with Peterborough City Council which might be able to step in and buy the homes.

Astute observers of the political scene will know that unlike so many other politicians Mr Vara does not go in for bluster and bullying, so when he says he is ‘very disappointed’ that’s surely code for him being hopping mad.

Mr Vara, in expressing his dismay, also added that: “This is particularly so, given the present climate of uncertainty and the pandemic.’’

Mr Vara has discussed this situation with the Minister Jeremy Quin. I’m sure Mr Vara was far too polite to ask this question of the minister: “How would you like it if you or your loved ones were evicted from their home in the middle of a pandemic?’’ But I’m not.

You might think that’s a cheap shot, but it’s nowhere as cheap a shot as throwing families out on the street.

People who rent in this country are treated appallingly. Apologists bluster on about a minority of rogue landlords. But what hope is there when our own Government acts like this?

At the time of writing Peterborough sits in second place in the national league table of Covid new case rates. Covid rates are falling but in most of the rest of the country rates have fallen far more quickly than has been the case in the city. Dozens of cases at the city’s prison have undoubtedly contributed to the total case rate and the fact that Peterborough’s is so high. But it is not the only factor and there are other hotspots. The city’s response to the pandemic has been tremendous - from community support to the vaccine rollout. The city council and the authorities have also worked hard and been successful. Many of the methods of engaging with communities on the need for following lockdown restrictions and having vaccines have been picked up and used elsewhere in the country. Marshals have been put on the street and police have stepped up patrols. There is much to credit about the city’s response to the pandemic but the brutal fact is that it has not yet had the desired effect. New case rates remain too high. The concern is that as lockdown is eased across the nation the government may look to take special measures in areas where cases have not dropped sufficiently - as it did with the tier system before lockdown. It would be disastrous if the city found itself in that position. Good work has been done and now more is needed. Hotspots need to be targeted and the reasons for them addressed. We all need to ensure we take extra care. The local authorities will be redoubling their efforts. The end of lockdown is in sight and we can all play a part in ensuring it comes sooner not later to Peterborough.

>Mark Edwards >@PT Mark Edwards