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Lofts decision sparks race row
 | | Cllr Simon Tesler |
COUNCIL plans to ban loft extensions are institutionally racist, according to Jewish community representatives, who are set to take their case to the top race relations watchdog.
Cllr Simon Tesler made the claim over guidelines currently being prepared that prohibit front dormer loft extensions to homes and place restrictions on rear dormer loft extensions.
He said that there up to eight weddings a week in the Jewish community in Stamford Hill and they had provided for an expanding population through loft extensions for 50 years.
"It's institutional racism," said Cllr Tesler. "The growing Jewish community here has special housing needs which the council is now ignoring.
The draft proposals are yet to go before Hackney Council's Cabinet ahead of public consultation.
However, more than 10,000 letters of objection have been delivered to homes in the borough on behalf of the Stamford Hill-based Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, urging householders in the largest Orthodox Jewish community in Europe to sign and return them to the council.
A delegation from the union has had a meeting with the deputy mayor, Cllr Jessica Crowe, to discuss the issue.
FOR THE FULL STORY SEE THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE AVAILABLE FROM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23.
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