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Thursday, May 24, 2007

e-petition to defend council housing

Defend Council Housing has posted a 'Fourth Option' for council housing e-petition on the Downing Street website.
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Anonymous said...

This was in this weeks Merthyr Express
May be someone out to write the paper giving the E link
Borough Council cannot afford to keep them up to scratch.
Merthyr tenants will go to the ballot boxes later this year to decide the future of their homes.
And it has been revealed the authority is nearly £30m short of funding to meet Welsh Assembly criteria for improvements to their 4,333 council houses - which need to be carried out by 2012.
Peter Mitchell, of the Bridge Group, which is helping the council with its consultation process, said: 'Merthyr Council is looking to the future of its housing service. It is doing that because all social housing should be a certain standard.
'The council has two options available to it. Either carry on running housing itself and trying to find money, or transfer the housing to a new housing association.'
The Bridge Group is in talks with a tenants' committee set up to help tenants understand the voting process.
Reaction was mixed when the Express spoke to people in Gurnos.
Tenant David Morris, aged 68, of Beech Grove, said: 'It's not going to make a lot of difference. I've been with the council since 1962 and any repairs I've needed the council have been up here and done them quickly.'
Martin Davies, aged 49, who lives in a housing association property, said: 'I've asked them to do several things and I haven't had any satisfaction. I have had a bad deal.'
But Marlene White, aged 63, of Ash Crescent, is more positive about a switch-over.
She said: 'They do all the repairs in the housing association houses in our street, so perhaps we will have our repairs done.
'Where is our money to the council going? Why are we paying council tax?'
Neighbour Pat Harrison, aged 62, said: 'We won't be able to buy off the housing association if they are sold.'
The bill to bring all Merthyr's council housing up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2012 is estimated to be £69.5m.
Council estimates show it can afford to spend £40.7m on repairs and improvements over the same period - £28.8m less than it needs.
A residents' newsletter also says that, contrary to fears, the Right To Buy scheme would continue if tenants have that right now.

May 27, 2007 at 4:22:00 AM PDT

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