Protesters have staged a sit-in demonstration at the brutalist London estate where Stanley Kubrick’s Clockwork Orange was filmed, claiming that art washing is being used to put “a band-aid on a bullet wound.”
A group of residents occupied the Lakeside Centre in Thamesmead as neighbours continue to battle against plans for a huge regeneration of the area.
Residents have complained for months that they have been left to rot next to boarded-up homes infested with cockroaches, mice and mould as plans to revamp the area stagnated.
Seven residents occupied the Lakeside Centre on Saturday and displayed a banner saying: “Reclaim Bow Arts”. More than 40 artists currently live and work in the space as property guardians, but residents claim many are not local people.
Andrea Gilbert, who took part in the protest, told the Standard: “They are moving artists onto the estate while everyone else is being moved off. They are placing artists here, making out that it’s cultural. But the residents living on the estate are living in mouldy homes... people are living in really substandard homes.”
Ms Gilbert added that art washing, a term often used to describe when art is used to gloss over problems in an area, can make developers look creative and friendly.
A campaign leaflet read out by the residents during the protest noted: “Residents are living in unsafe homes or being forced out. Art is being used to mask gentrification and attract investors.”
The group called for the Lakeside Centre to be “returned to public and community ownership”.
Another protester, Esther Ovba, told the Guardian: “I’m Nigerian and my estate is being gentrified. It feels like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
“People like me don’t believe our voices are being heard. Some members of the community are being moved to other areas like Rochester and Gillingham and more white, middle-class people are moving in. To me it feels like ethnic cleansing.”
Thamesmead was once hailed as “the town of tomorrow” by its Greater London Council architects, and the Lesnes estate was used as the dystopian backdrop to A Clockwork Orange.
Planning permission was granted to the Peabody Housing Association in October 2022 to replace 816 homes with 2,778 new ones, as the estates began to fall into disrepair.
But neighbours have complained that they are being pushed out of the area and that they will not be able to enjoy the benefits of improvements to the area, including the Elizabeth Line.
Only a minority of the new homes will be available for social rent, with others priced at higher “affordable” rents, which many believe are out of reach, the Guardian reports.
Further properties will be put up for sale.
In response to the protest, Bow Arts insisted the properties it uses are offered to Bexley Council first, and the properties the council turns down are then offered to the group for its artist guardian scheme.
Earlier this year, residents asked the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan to take a look at the plans for the next phase of development on the estate.
But Sir Sadiq said he was content with the council to make the decision on the plans. The application has now been referred to the Secretary of State.
A Bexley council spokesperson said: “The council acknowledges the depth of feeling expressed by longstanding residents. While the regeneration programme is being delivered by Peabody and is not directly managed by the council, we remain committed to supporting residents and ensuring that their voices are heard throughout this process.”
Peabody’s executive director for sustainable places, John Lewis, added: “Since 2014, we’ve invested millions of pounds in community buildings, outdoor spaces, culture and communities in Thamesmead.
“We’re bringing derelict community spaces back to life alongside building much-needed homes – and have created six new community or cultural spaces since 2018.
“Keeping the community together is really important to us. We’re offering all residents on the Lesnes estate new homes.
“People living in a social rented home will continue to pay social rent in a brand-new home.
“Resident homeowners have the chance to buy a 1960s home like theirs on the neighbouring estate, or they can move into one of the new homes over the road, or we have offered to provide an additional 35% in equity or deposit to help them buy any other home locally.”
