Planet Hounslow
A neighbour and myself have been trying to assist some elderly neighbours who were promised that they would be moved from their 3 bed house to a sheltered unit nearby late last March. They were advised by housing officers to start packing up their home ready for the move - since then nothing!The work on the sheltered unit to alter space originally used for staff has been waiting to be 'signed off' since April by building control who said they had some issues with health & safety. Since then an elderly couple, not in the best of health, have been left living out of boxes and virtually in one room with only a hotplate to cook on as they were told their cooker was unsafe. My neighbour and I have been in almost non-stop correspondence with two ward councillors since last month and recently also the cabinet member for housing - and all we are told is that officers in the housing department are 'looking into it'. Quite what they are 'looking into' no-one has said and why 'signing off' work should take over five months remains a mystery. What is so staggering is that these people were actually asked by the housing dept. some time ago if they'd like to downsize! They also have some maintenance issues - a wet room installed by Hounslow for instance, leaks out into their hall if they use it, when they report anything they get met with this response - they are told the work won't be done - 'as they are moving'. Why is it that between them three elected members can't get their act together and tell officers to get off their rear ends and do it speedily? The other stupid part of this farce is that people desperate for family homes are being told - that 'they don't come up that often' - well they might if this shower bloody well showed some initiative, interest and spine. To leave elderly people in this mess for months on end because of sheer incompetence and lack of caring is an absolute disgrace.
Vanessa Smith ● 2683d10 Comments