Blog Post 2: Research

Although I have been able to gather information about Daniel, I do not know the full backstory of the events that lead up to his death, nor is it appropriate for me to publish his details. I have, however, been able to get a better idea of his circumstances. On reflection, it is clear his home environment must have had a massive impact on his wellbeing. He lived in a block of flats called Somerton House, positioned near Euston station wedged between the Premier Inn on one side and Costa Coffee on the other. 

With some research, I discovered the Somerton House Residents' Association website. Years’ worth of petitions and requests were documented. It was a shocking discovery to find the ignored efforts of the Somerton House team. Request after request have been made over the last 15 years - the majority concluding with no response at all.  "We said that these issues have been ongoing for several years, and show no signs of abating. We asked why things would be better in the future but did not receive solid answers." 

The building is home to around 60 residents - young, old, disabled as well as mentally ill individuals. (Somerton House Assosiation, 2019) A council house's purpose is to provide support to the vulnerable by giving them "access to a home" (Local Government Association, na)Furthermore, as stated in 'Independent Age', social housing is rented property that's owned and managed by social landlords 'it is cheaper than privately rented housing and offers greater, long-term security for tenants'. A home should include a safe, secure, peaceful and supportive foundation for those inside. Instead, the residents of Somerton House have been struggling from years worth of neglect - their basic necessities not being met.

Below is just a handful of the challenges the residents have had to deal with: 

- the council have stripped their "privacy and ownership" as they are now have to share "parking with hotel guests"; 

- The front of their homes has been turned into a large beer garden.  This has caused great concern as they describe feeling fearful knowing they have to walk past drunk crowds in order to get into their homes; 

- The residents’ previous garden was replaced by a Costa Coffee;

- Their homes were turned into a noisy construction site for over a year, causing particular distress to those "housebound" and "living with mental health issues."

- Residents were deprived of their privacy as the connecting Premier Inn Hotel's extension gave customers the ability to overlook the inside of their homes; 

- In the wake of the Grenfell fire, they discovered their building was not fire safe;

- An ongoing 5 year battle against the attached Premier Inn’s air conditioning noise;

- The reduction of natural light within their homes caused by an extension on the Premier Inn.

The most saddening point made was the description that their "homes will become dark, depressing prisons devoid of natural light," caused by the council’s decision to build an extension for the Hotel attached to them. This imagery is something I would like to incorporate and work with within my movement. To lose the light. Colour has great emotional connotations, it charges and fuels us, and brings us life.  The reduction of light places their homes within a dark grey haze. "Light is the source of life," (Blubo Light, 2021)

The residents appear to have no voice; all their efforts are ignored.  They state: "the Council is once again failing in its duty of care to safeguard vulnerable residents." Their lack of light and lack of voice is something which I would like to express within my dancing.

  

In my previous blog I commented about how I wanted ‘to embody the external, environmental blocks that drain and ruin people into my way of moving, showing weight of movement as well as physical barriers.’ I certainly feel that, from finding the Somerton House Association information, I have discovered clearer ways I can interpret these blocks. For example,

- to demonstrate enclosure - moving within a very limited space, to re-enact the touching of tightening walls;

- The reduction of light can be shown through a way of looking up to the sky, almost reaching out as it disappears;

- Noise and fume pollution can be demonstrated by movements that include holding the head, ears and gasping for breath;

- the lack of voice and inability to express the inner torment, shown in the covering of the mouth.

The most important factor is, however, to display the impact these problems can have on people. To look at how external factors can encourage the formation of emotionally tormented individuals who are puppets to their circumstances.  

 

 

 

References:

 

- Light, B., 2022. Why We Need Light For Healing. [Online]

Available at: https://www.bulbolight.com/blogs/think/invisible-health-why-we-need-light-for-life-and-wellbeing
[Accessed 1 December 2021].

- Na, na. Local Goverment Association. [Online] Available at: 

https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-planning/council-housing-100/why-council-housing-important#:~:text=Over%20the%20last%20century%2C%20council%20housing%20has%20been,the%20past%2010%20years%20council%20building%20has%20slumped.[Accessed 1 January 2021].

- Na, 2022. Somerton House Assosiation. [Online]Available at: https://somertonhouse.org.uk/ [Accessed 8th January 2022].

 

Microsoft Word - Objection Statement-1.docx (camden.gov.uk)

 

Social housing Available at: https://www.independentage.org/get-advice/housing-options/types-of-housing/applying-for-social-housing?gclid=CjwKCAiA9aKQBhBREiwAyGP5ldZ-UjM1s-VZK9mpv_T5NLJoBuwsiLJZsQadOdK3US9r_0jzQmOZzRoCc24QAvD_BwE (accessed Dec 2021)