Rent hike probe may halt estate rebuild (From Daily Echo)
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Investigation into Townhill Park rent increase consultation
2:00pm Friday 16th November 2012 in News
By Sian Davies, Senior News Reporter
Rent hike probe may halt estate rebuild
The decision to start rebuilding a Southampton estate could be put on hold over concerns residents were not properly told of how much their rents would rise.
It comes after the Daily Echo reported yesterday how council tenants claimed they had not been told that some rents could double if they were to return to live in the revamped Townhill Park estate.
As a result the chairman of the city council’s scrutiny committee, Cllr Jeremy Moulton, announced he would be calling in the decision to focus on how the consultation was carried out.
He said: “As a result of the findings in the Daily Echo it seems quite clear that these residents were not properly told of what the rent rises would be. “It would appear to go against the grain for there to be no concern over the prospect of rent levels rising to, in some cases, double the amount that they were.
“That is a matter of concern. It is likely we will call for an investigation into what happened and recommend the decision to start work on the regeneration be suspended while that it carried out.”
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that the regeneration of other housing estates in the city is being put at risk as a result of the plans to rebuild Townhill Park.
Conservative housing spokesman Peter Baillie said there would not be enough money to spend on other estates after the Labour administration decided to own the 450 homes rather than sell them off to a housing association, as in the Tories’ original plan.
Cllr Baillie said: “By buying 450 homes they are spending an extra £68m on top of what we budgeted for. That money could be spent on at least five other regeneration projects. It will take something like ten years before any project of this scale can be done again.”
However, housing boss Warwick Payne rubbished those claims, saying that work was already starting on identifying the next estate for a revamp, with Millbrook and Maybush likely to be the next to get a makeover. He said: “When we came to office the Conservatives had promised an estate regeneration programme but I found no plans, no timetable, no work whatsoever that had been done.
“Taking the approach we have in Townhill may not be right for every other estate, it may be that the community is happy with certain aspects of their estate and want to see improvements elsewhere. We will listen to what they have to say, and give them the improvements that they want.”
Comments(16)
bazzeroz
says...
3:28pm Fri 16 Nov 12
loosehead
says...
3:33pm Fri 16 Nov 12
star maria wrote:Can I ask you some questions?
Do this council p****snot realise how they are messing with peoples lifes. Whether your a council tenant or home owner like myself we just want a definate answer. do they not understand the stress the not knowing is causing. Get it sorted and stop leaving us in limbo
Do you live in Townhill Park?
Do you want to lose the Copse?
What did you think of the original Tory plan?
Personally I would have asked all residents to come & talk & try to work out a plan that all residents wanted & would be happy to live in that area.
If you people are happy where they live usually the area is a good place to live if no one gives a **** & it's just a roof over their heads then the estate is not a community but it attracts the yobs & undesirables so it seems to make sense to build what the tenants would be happy with doesn't it?
loosehead
says...
3:36pm Fri 16 Nov 12
bazzeroz wrote:Didn't Williams & the other Labour Councillor for Woolston promise the flats an overhaul? or was it just to win votes?
I still can't understand why Townhill Park needs a revamp! There are more deserving estates that are a lot more 'tired' and older than THP. This comment also covers the work undertaken in Weston and Thornhill. There are a few Southampton estates that were built in the 1930's that should qualify for grants.
star maria
says...
4:18pm Fri 16 Nov 12
lovetheladies
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4:39pm Fri 16 Nov 12
star maria
says...
5:05pm Fri 16 Nov 12
lovetheladies
says...
5:09pm Fri 16 Nov 12
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
5:45pm Fri 16 Nov 12
loosehead
says...
6:40pm Fri 16 Nov 12
star maria wrote:What would the residents of the estate like to see happen there?
We don't all sponge some of us own our property and now have to start looking again and uproot my whole family through no fault of my own.
I'm not a councillor & I don't belong to any party but to improve the estate surely you have to make it a place the residents are proud to live in?
do that & then see that area change.
I live on a council estate but like yours it's now mixed with private & council homes we have people going around & picking up litter in their own time as they're proud to say they come from this estate & want to keep it free of litter so please get your friends & call for a meeting with the council & tell them what you want & ask for the Echo to be there so it's public knowledge & the Council can't deny any knowledge of it GOOD LUCK
lovetheladies
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6:45pm Fri 16 Nov 12
loosehead
says...
6:53pm Fri 16 Nov 12
lovetheladies wrote:Surely if the residents agree with demolishing the Flats & maybe build 99% of the new estate as housing this in itself would help to improve the area?
Loosehead ever heard the term you can't polish a turd! Place will never improve!!! Wish you all best tho Maria
I don't know I don't live there?
lovetheladies
says...
7:19pm Fri 16 Nov 12
Maine Lobster
says...
7:42pm Fri 16 Nov 12
As the Council can't fund a rebuild of the estate,they have to rely upon the private sector to develop it. Of course that means private profits and unfortunately rents which many local people can't afford. The middle class will replace the working class and effectively cleanse Townhill Park of people unlikely to vote Tory. Bitterne Park ward Councillors (all Tory) won't have missed that probable outcome!
lovetheladies
says...
7:47pm Fri 16 Nov 12
loosehead
says...
9:53pm Fri 16 Nov 12
Maine Lobster wrote:Sorry but isn't there a cap in place on rents or monies paid for rents from the government?
The rents will be much higher because they won't be Council homes and will be run by a Housing Association.
As the Council can't fund a rebuild of the estate,they have to rely upon the private sector to develop it. Of course that means private profits and unfortunately rents which many local people can't afford. The middle class will replace the working class and effectively cleanse Townhill Park of people unlikely to vote Tory. Bitterne Park ward Councillors (all Tory) won't have missed that probable outcome!
star maria says...
2:57pm Fri 16 Nov 12