Petrified at the prospect of moving to a high-rise hell

Our world is bursting with talented, giving, sensitive people, but somehow we have built social divisions based on financial success and wrong urban planning.

We don’t deal appropriately with our wealth, and too many people are left behind on the verge of poverty and society, at the point of emotional breakdown.

I’m a divorced mum with four young kids looking for a job – but luckily always have just enough to feed the kids and continue their education.

We managed to stay in our lovely property, even though we came close to losing it, and I always fear that when the father of my children stops helping us pay the mortgage, we will relocate to one of those high-rise hells.

I’m petrified of the prospect of living with my children surrounded by drugs, murder and urine drenched spaces.

I’m lucky so far. My home is in a lovely street where we created a true community spirit.

We support each other in problems, we look after our properties when away, our kids play together, our street is lively with children, we chat at our gates and invite each other inside for coffee. We lend and borrow. We party together, raise money for charities and help each other to care for our children.

We came from different countries, cultures and religions. We love to talk about it and surprise each other to find we have so much in common. We smile to each other on the way to schools and work. It seems trivial, but I remember being so tired and discouraged with my life that those friendly smiles and casual chat kept me alive.

I think everybody deserves to live in the dignity of local friendship and a peaceful, clean environment.

Demolish those ghettos and rehouse people into dignified accommodation where they can build beautiful communities for their children, just like on our street, with flowers in front gardens and plenty of space for kids to play and study.

Barbara Solomons
Rutland Avenue
Southend