Outraged residents demand answers on plans for house

Aug 21 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

A BITTER row between residents and North Lanarkshire Council over the future use of a £¼m detached house continued this week.

Angry neighbours want answers as to why the four-bedroomed house with a detached double garage in Witcutt Way, Netherton, had been acquired to house two people under the social work department’s “supported living” programme.

The residents this week formed an action group (Netherton Family Action Group) and plan to petition the council against the move.

The house was purchased by Sanctuary Housing Association for £258,000, which, the council say, was less than the independent market valuation of the property.

The association is a charitable organisation and housing provider, managing over 70,000 homes throughout Scotland and England.

North Lanarkshire Council contributed £196,000 towards the purchase, using grant funding. Council chiefs say the money was transferred to them from an NHS budget. That budget is used to accommodate patients moved into the community following hospital closure programmes.

A spokesman for NHS Lanarkshire said: “NHS Lanarkshire has been reducing the number of beds for people with learning disabilities and mental health patients over a number of years.

“This is part of a modernisation programme to move away from outdated institutions of the past to provide services in more appropriate locations to aid people's recovery. Where the council is responsible for providing the alternative services, the associated resources are transferred from NHS Lanarkshire to the council's budget."

But residents living in and around the area say they are “fed up being the last to know what happens right on their doorstep”.

A spokesperson for the NFAG said: “Our paramount concerns are for our children. This is a nice residential area and we don’t understand why it has been decided to use this particular house.

“Most of us living in and around this area have children and enjoy the fact that they are safe and can play nearby.

“One of the members of our group has worked in social work as a carer for a number of years and has never seen the council spend so much on the purchase of one home for only two people.

“We have no idea who is going into this house and we want our children to be safe now and in the future.”

Wishaw Labour councillor John Pentland this week claimed that he also knew nothing about the housing association’s involvement with the house in Witcutt Way.

He said: "The first I knew of this was when a constituent contacted me regarding an anonymous letter which was delivered to a number of houses. I immediately contacted Mary Castles, the director of housing and social work services, and will be meeting with her as soon as possible regarding this issue.

“As one of the four elected members for this area and, indeed, as a neighbour of Witcutt Way, I have some concerns about this matter.

“Unfortunately, this letter has created alarm and I can fully understand this reaction. However, the residents can be assured that this house will not be used to shelter anyone who could be a threat to the community.”

Council officials this week said “occasionally there are circumstances where there is no suitable housing provision available and it is necessary to make a contribution towards the purchase of a house, as is the case in this instance. This was done through a proportionate contribution in line with normal policy.

“The council work in partnership with a range of partners, including housing associations, to meet the housing needs of the area.”

The council also confirmed that the two residents require independent living assistance “and therefore accommodation for staff is also required.”

Council bosses also added that the residents would stay at the house for as long as they require it – it is their permanent home. “Its purpose is not to provide temporary accommodation and it will not be used for temporary housing situations;” they added.

Duncan MacKay, head of social work development said: “The residents of this house have the right to privacy – a right which all of us are entitled to have respected. Like all councils, we have a duty to protect their privacy and treat their details as confidential.

“What we can say is that this house will not be used to accommodate anyone who poses a threat to the community.”