That's definately

Not Too far off

and in all fairness to MP David Wright, the ball had already started rolling.

An initial part from the Shropshire Star Web site.

MP David Wright is planning a housing summit.


Number on rented homes list doubles

The number of people who have registered for social homes to rent in Telford and Wrekin has doubled in less than two years, figures reveal.

A total of 11,000 people have registered for social homes to rent, according to the new figures. This has doubled since the launch of the Choose Your Home lettings scheme in 2006, which allows people to view available homes from social landlords before submitting an application,

Telford MP David Wright said more affordable housing was needed and he is planning a housing summit to help tackle the issue.

Bosses at Wrekin Housing Trust, which runs the Choose Your Home scheme, said demand had increased due to rising house prices.

Kylie Anderson, operational manager of Choose Your Home, said: “The fact that Choose Your Home is so accessible and several other housing associations also use it means that a high number of people -11,000 - have registered to use the scheme.

“The number of people registered on Choose Your Home has doubled since it was launched in November 2006.”

Read the full story in the Shropshire Star

How convenient how the Shropshire Star fail to mention that TCW has Campaigned since September 2006 to get this summit when it was first promised and the drive to get it done was because of an email sent out to a number of Counillors, MP's including MP David Wright, MP Mark Pritchard who fails to answer and MP Caroline Flint in it was said "We would arrange the Summit" - how convenient.

John, have you seen the rag ''insight'' it has a big spread on Sutton Hill but nothing about TCW.

More to the point John is that I see the Shropshire Star has failed to mention any of the efforts people have gone to and why the campaigns are being raised against the WHT and other Trusts. I would like nothing more than to see this housing summit as a great success but I can foresee this as being one of the biggest whitewashes ever. I do find it funny how it appears in the Star that David Wright seems top be the one who has taken the glory for this summit. All I can say is "We'll see".

TCW and you, John, need to be credited for all the effort you have put into this and shown.

I am amazed that the WHT bosses still have not figured out that the reason the number of people on the Choose Your Home waiting list has more than doubled is because the population is growing, mainly because of the large number of foreigners moving into the area. It also may have something to do with the fact that the houses are being sold off by the WHT at a much faster rate than they are being replaced. Then there are all the reasons that you point out with regard to the younger generation.

It is worth noting that there are houses which even after 8 plus weeks which were advertised on the CYH website has still to be allocated as they are still lying empty and saying 'Offer Made'. Why?

If, however, as Kylie Anderson states that only 10% actively choose homes then how come there are some people still looking to move after 16 years? Why is it that any individual who has been on the waiting list for many years is still there? The CYH scheme apparently does not allow too long a period before applicants are taken off the waiting list for non-selection stating that if they have not selected a home within a measured time then there is no real interest in moving at all. That being the case why is it that someone can have been waiting for as long as 16 years? Have they been rejecting houses for up to 16 years? If they are not serious about moving, and let's face it if they are still selecting houses after 3 or 4 years then they are probably not that serious at all, unless there is a real and justifiable reason why there has not been anything suitable.

Too many people are allowed to waste serious applicant's time by using the system to look for that 'PERFECT HOUSE' in a 'PERFECT LOCATION'. Unless there is a very serious reason as to why someone has not selected a house, or has selected several and refused them, then those applicants should be struck off the list. They are the ones who are not serious about moving.

I can't even exchange or move unless I select the right kind of property, and the WHT have told me that they will block any move I want to make to any property unless it is suits my wife's circumstances. I really feel like saying 'To hell with the bloody lot of it' and lying through my teeth to move to another town and start fresh all over.

The Wind of Change

Social Housing is on the agenda as a priority, but it has taken two years of pushing to do it.

Numerous letters, emails and discussions with Members of Parliament and Councillors, most of which were ignored, even by the Councillor responsible for housing and is or was listed as a Director of the WHT.

It has to be said the Wrekin Housing Trust certainly snapped up a bargain when they bought approximately 13,000 houses from Telford and Wrekin Council, they then employed a strategy of selling stock at an alarming rate and now hold a stock of approximately 10,000.

Whilst the Wrekin Housing Trust continue to sell, which adds to the housing burden, they have to be questioned and made to answer as to why they sell so many so often and why do they build out of the borough. It is suggested that they are now investing in news builds within the area of the potteries.

Hardly fair to the residents of Telford and Wrekin is it?

The following link highlights a residents struggle, unfortunately, this kind of story is becoming accepted as the rule, rather than the exception,
http://xrl.us/op4i7

As identified in the Shropshire Star of 3rd September 2008 the waiting list has almost doubled. Here the Wrekin Housing Trust are playing a game of smoke and mirrors, blaming the increase on rising house prices, failing to mention the policy to sell, if a property requires £8000 or more work to be carried out on it. The WHT need to accept that their sales policy plays a great part in the increased housing need.

In order for the WHT to provide the best for the residents, there has to be a need for all to buy into the idea, here is a piece from an internal email of the WHT, sent from a Director of the Trust to a staff member, I was copied in

“Thanks xxxx, nice reply.
Not sure if Debbie mentioned to you but I have been contacted by the telford council watch group. I am going to do a reply later today and will copy you in. It will have to be very non committal”

Here is a clear indication of the Trust Director, giving praise on what was a “fob off” displaying the secretive institutionalised attitude they have.

Residents have many genuine concerns that need addressing as a matter of urgency and a policy of honesty from ALL Social Landlords needs to be endorsed.

I do have a question for Nathan Rous who wrote a piece about Campaign Groups and how he would support a Campaign group about Campaign Groups.

This is one Campaign Group that played a part in kick starting the Sutton Hill Regeneration, the Housing Summit, would you now come forward and say, they can work when done correctly?

Below is the email that prompted a response from MP David Wright, ultimately leading to the Housing Summit.

After having given MP David Wright a hard time on a number of occasions, I will now publicly praise him for his approach to myself, the time he afforded myself and the way in which he handling this.

I personally believe it took a real man to do what he did and I will say to everyone that he was extremely positive about pushing this forward and has already made considerable in roads with regards the Housing Summit.

Whilst this could’ve been done sometime ago, maybe it’s fortunate it didn’t as housing is right at the top of the government’s agenda.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said about MP Mark Pritchard, who does not respond to his Constituency, but it must be hard when your visiting McCain and the Dalai Lama.

Below is a copy of the email sent out to many including MP Mark Pritchard, MP Caroline Flint and a number of borough Councillors.




Housing Summit

As you will be aware, the last 18 months or so have seen the Social Housing waiting list in the Borough of Telford and Wrekin increase from 5000 to 11,000.

As you know, the issue of Social Housing is somewhat complexed and with a growing population the future housing needs are only going to increase.

The issues facing the Borough of Telford and Wrekin and the need for Social Housing are further compounded by issues such

* An ageing population
* Increased needs by young people aged 16 to 25 years
* The Sales of current housing stock
* Housing not being replaced after sales are completed
* A growing population linked with the dash for City Status
* An unfair Choice on Choose Your Home ie – All houses available in the all bands section are allocated to those in the Urgent band thus negating the need for this banding.

And many more issues besides.

Having assisted a number of residents gain a home of their own or even simply emergency accommodation, I am alarmed at the clear discrimination faced by those residents who are disabled and find themselves a victim of Disability Discrimination through no fault of their own, but more because they were honest and declared a disability in the belief they would be treated fairly.

An able bodied resident can apply for up to three house per week therefore have a opportunity to apply for 150 houses annually. When compared to that of a disabled resident the discrimination becomes clear as their annual choice is restricted to about six per annum. Although they can apply, they will not receive equal consideration because of their disability.

The argument for this policy seems to revolve around the issue of adaptions. The needed adaptions for many disabled residents could be easily catered for as they are aids that can be easily transferred from one property to another without any cost to the Social Housing Landlord.

Other issues further compound the problems as residents can be injected into the housing waiting list from outside agencies, giving the impression of queue jumping, therefore it is not uncommon to find a single person in for example a three bed property or a partially adapted house, suitable for disabled residents being allocated to able bodied residents.

The social housing waiting list consists of a wide range of residents going back as long as 1992, by any standards, this is not acceptable.

Whilst the whole issue is complex, what I do firmly believe is “doing nothing” is no longer an option. It is not about now, next week or even next year, It is about our children, grandchildren and beyond.

It only takes an adverse twist of fate and anyone of us could find ourselves on the street and in the need of Social Housing.

As the moves towards a Housing Summit appear to have come to grinding halt, myself and other residents are going to arrange a Housing Summit and will forward invitations forward to yourselves accordingly.

I respectfully ask that you put your weight behind it, raise the genuine concerns of residents, put politics to one side and start the wheels of motion towards constructive change which an extremely important Social Issue effecting many in our communities.

I will arrange a venue, an agenda, invitations and a warm welcome. I hope you will take part.

The wind of change is blowing gently in favour of the resident, I for one intend to turn it into a full scale hurricane.

Your email to the MP's spells it out quite well and I agree with all you say. My support and attendance at a summit is guaranteed.

What you say about single people being given 3 bed houses reminded me of 2 people who used to live near to me and were caught cheating the benefits.

They are a married couple who since being caught supposedly split up and went their seperate ways. The husband got a 3 bed house in Arleston while the wife stayed put temporarily. However, the wife got herself a 3 bed house via an exchange and moved. Guess where to? Arleston, 2 roads away from her 'So called' ex husband.

Oddly enough both of them still use only one house and both are classed as disabled, yet the husband runs his own decorating/gardening/oddjob business and still gets his full disability. His wife still gets her disability also. Neither of these 2 cheating individuals have children living with them.

That's where the housing system is completely crap. No proper checking and no follow up. Any person who takes advantage of the system should have their house taken off them and also their benefits. And they say 'Cheats never prosper'.

There is talk of carers being given more money because they are considered to be full time workers if they care for a friend or relative 24/7.

Can a carer be considered to be a worker or not?

If so, then why are carers disqualified from applying for houses if the person they care for is a wife/husband/partner?

If they are on benefits they are disqualified from applying for houses that specify a person must be working.