Local Success In Campaign To Tackle Boarded Up Properties In The Carron Road Area!
Recently my ward colleague and fellow Brickhill Borough Councillor Peter Hand and I, were contacted by local residents in the Carron Road area of Brickhill, off Tyne Crescent, concerned about the number of boarded up empty properties in the area and the length of time they had been like this; according to some local residents who we have spoken to, some of the properties have been boarded up and lying empty for nearly 3 years! This is a complete disgrace!!
At a time when we are told there is a shortage of affordable and social housing, we felt that something must be done. The boarded up properties are also an unneccessary eyesore for local residents and are not good for the local community.
In response to residents' concerns we made strong representations on this matter to the Housing Association responsible for most of the homes in the area - Places for People - as well as the Borough Council's Empty Homes Officer, Barry Garner. As always, Barry has his finger on the pulse and has been extremely pro-active and helpful - he's a great asset to the Council. Following our lobbying, today 'Places for People' contacted us to acknowledge that indeed, a number of properties on the Carron Road estate - 1 in Leven Walk, as well as 2 in Skerne Passage for example - have been empty for a lengthy period of time. They claim they had to carry out extensive repairs to the properties, after the previous occupants moved out, in order to make the homes habitable once again.
It makes you wonder what they had been up to! We have been advised that the works on these properties have now been completed, with two already occupied by new tenants and the third due to have new tenants move in during this month. Myself and Cllr Hand both very much welcome this news.
Other empty properties in the Carron Road area, about which we also raised our concerns, are currently being assessed and 'Places for People' inform us, they expect to be made available to new tenants shortly. We will watch this space and continue to lobby the Housing Association to ensure this is so.
We believe Housing Associations must do more to recognise the importance of bringing existing properties back into use and take the necessary steps and actions in order to do so. At a time when the green fields next to the Carron Road area are currently being built on for new homes, it was completely unnacceptable to see perfectly good homes, just a stone's throw away, boarded up and lying empty.
By working in partnership with local residents and tenants, the Borough Council's Housing Department, private landlords and the Housing Associations concerned, myself and Cllr Peter Hand will continue to work to ensure that any empty homes in Brickhill are not left lying empty and boarded up for too long. If you know of any that we may not, then please do get in contact with me!! Thanks for your help.
At a time when we are told there is a shortage of affordable and social housing, we felt that something must be done. The boarded up properties are also an unneccessary eyesore for local residents and are not good for the local community.
In response to residents' concerns we made strong representations on this matter to the Housing Association responsible for most of the homes in the area - Places for People - as well as the Borough Council's Empty Homes Officer, Barry Garner. As always, Barry has his finger on the pulse and has been extremely pro-active and helpful - he's a great asset to the Council. Following our lobbying, today 'Places for People' contacted us to acknowledge that indeed, a number of properties on the Carron Road estate - 1 in Leven Walk, as well as 2 in Skerne Passage for example - have been empty for a lengthy period of time. They claim they had to carry out extensive repairs to the properties, after the previous occupants moved out, in order to make the homes habitable once again.
It makes you wonder what they had been up to! We have been advised that the works on these properties have now been completed, with two already occupied by new tenants and the third due to have new tenants move in during this month. Myself and Cllr Hand both very much welcome this news.
Other empty properties in the Carron Road area, about which we also raised our concerns, are currently being assessed and 'Places for People' inform us, they expect to be made available to new tenants shortly. We will watch this space and continue to lobby the Housing Association to ensure this is so.
We believe Housing Associations must do more to recognise the importance of bringing existing properties back into use and take the necessary steps and actions in order to do so. At a time when the green fields next to the Carron Road area are currently being built on for new homes, it was completely unnacceptable to see perfectly good homes, just a stone's throw away, boarded up and lying empty.
By working in partnership with local residents and tenants, the Borough Council's Housing Department, private landlords and the Housing Associations concerned, myself and Cllr Peter Hand will continue to work to ensure that any empty homes in Brickhill are not left lying empty and boarded up for too long. If you know of any that we may not, then please do get in contact with me!! Thanks for your help.
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