Severn Vale Housing boss defends purpose-built home for mum-of-11 Heather Frost
HOUSING boss Hugh Aldridge has defended the way accommodation is allocated in the wake of mum-of-11 Heather Frost's 'mansion'.
The chief executive of Severn Vale Housing has defended the provider's role in the case.
The organisation has come under fire after The Citizen revealed it was building a six-bedroom home to accommodate the jobless Churchdown mum and her large brood.
But Mr Aldridge has spoken openly about the work they do to find homes for families – large and small.
Get 10% off your GAP insurance with ALA.co.uk using the promotional code LW10
Contact: 01653 916304
Valid until: Wednesday, June 18 2014
There are currently 2,613 active applications on the housing waiting list for Tewkesbury Borough Council.
They also have some 4,000 tenants on their books in the county.
He said: "We provide good quality, low cost homes for people who need them.
"There is a needs based system and, after applicant's needs are assessed by the local council, they are placed into a band which gives them priority for housing."
A decision to provide a larger, purpose-built home for Heather Frost was made because of overcrowding in her current property in Innsworth Lane, which is two council houses knocked together.
But Mr Aldridge said they have other ways of dealing with overcrowding.
He said: "We also promote the use of mutual exchanges whereby people can swap with other tenants, both ours and other providers."
He said applicants score points according to their needs.
He said: "Applicants have their needs assessed, including medical issues, overcrowding and current property condition. Points are awarded to reflect an applicant's situation, and properties are allocated in points order ensuring that families are properly matched."
7 Comments
by HarryInLydney
Thursday, February 28 2013, 11:54AM
“nickthompson - I don't know the facts about tax cuts for the rich so I cant comment. Get a story published about it and we can discuss there. However the fact that someone else is an immoral drain on tax-payers contributions doesnt diminish others.
'But they were all doing it' is not an excuse for grown-ups. Prisons are full of these.”
by nickthompson
Thursday, February 28 2013, 9:51AM
“HarryInLydney:
Scooter:
jpman:-------In less than 40 days, on April 6th, David Cameron and George Osborne are giving 13,000 millionaires a £100,000 tax cut. Meanwhile, millions are being made to pay more.
With Britain losing our credit rating and slipping into a triple dip recession, rather than supporting the economy and jobs, David Cameron and George Osborne are handing a massive tax cut to the wealthiest.”
by whiteheat
Thursday, February 28 2013, 7:19AM
“What Mr Aldridge fails to mention is that there other tenants with children including disabled children who being are refused access to the correct housing by Severn Vale Housing and Tewkesbury Council.
Have these two bodies checked their housing lists for issues of overcrowding.
Have the councillors on Tewesbury Council asked for fair play for those tenants, er No.”
by jpman
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 5:33PM
“do they get points if they go out to work to pay for the things they have to like the rest of us
fairplay cant these idiots at severn vale and TBC see they have very little defence against ripping off the hard working ppl of this country if severn vale housing and TBC were a supermarket i would have been shopping elsewhere long ago”
by valhalla2010
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 4:50PM
“Yawn, here we go again!”
by Scooter
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 12:50PM
“There cannot be any justification that allows taxpayer's money to be used to build a new home for someone that has 11 children; if you cannot afford to house, feed and clothe 11 children, don't have them! For the system to 'support' in this manner is just sending out the message to others..... Have more children and you will get a brand new house. It is a scandalous use of taxpayer's money!”
by HarryInLydney
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 12:23PM
“Aah, all following procedures and scores. When it goes wrong, blame the process. We are currently in a desperate financial crisis that is hitting everywhere. Luxury nice-to-have mansions for people who have never worked or contributed to society in their life means something is wrong somewhere.
If this process is "right", then the people implementing it are wrong.”