Lewisham Council has faced fresh calls to disclose who the security firm guarding the Tidemill garden in Deptford is, after residents spotted County Enforcement signage on fencing around the site.
Lewisham announced it had changed the security guarding the site last month, after cabinet member for housing Cllr Paul Bell said controversial County Enforcement “do not fit with Lewisham values.”
This was after residents highlighted the company which evicted campaigners from the garden lists its involvement in breaking the miners’ strike in the 1980s.
Lewisham Trades Union Council vice-president Cheryl McLeod said the County Enforcement signage at the site was put up after trees were cut down on February 27.
She said the council needed to clear up who was guarding Tidemill.
“What are public commitments at full council worth if County Enforcement are still at Tidemill in March when Cllr Paul Bell says they are incompatible with the council’s values?
“The transparency within is this council is non-existent. They have consistently advised to Tidemill residents this union-busting security firm is no longer working for Lewisham Council, [but] when Tidemill residents have directly asked the security guards they have been advised they are employed by Lewisham Council.
“I would of thought this is pretty straightforward considering Cllr Bell is a national officer for Unison trade union,” she added.
But a council spokesperson would not clarify what company is guarding the garden.
He said Peabody, which is building the homes, is now in charge of security at the garden, and that the council had asked for the sign to be removed.
County Enforcement were used to evict campaigners from the Tidemill garden in Deptford last October.
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