| Topic: | And still it goes on........... | |
| Posted by: | Vanessa Smith | |
| Date/Time: | 20/01/19 12:38:00 |
| You may remember the sorry saga of trying to help my elderly neighbours 'downsize' from a 3 bed house to a flat in a sheltered unit that was beset by so many problems you really couldn't have made it up. This started in November 2017 they were told to get ready and start packing up last April and then left living out of boxes for months on end while Hounslow faffed with converting previous staff accomodation in the sheltered unit into two more flats. Although Hounslow did eventually help them with storage and getting a cooker that they'd removed - still they sit waiting. First of all it was questions over building regs. and the consultant that had been in charge (consultant really?) then it was questions over fire regs. These of course are both important and vital areas that have to be right - but how long can this possibly take? So from last April when they were told to get ready to move until now, all there has been is excuse after excuse. Elected members have been found wanting, and only one housing officer was of practical help as far as she was able. This is a disgraceful state of affairs, how can a local authority not convert two flats in a sheltered unit in over a year? Hounslow claim they are desperate for family houses - this would free up one, and there's been another empty in the next road since before Christmas, wouldn't you think that some sort of urgency in utilising their scarce properties would filter through somewhere? This is an absolute scandal, not only leaving elderly people in limbo for over a year but failing people who are waiting for a family home. Useless. |