No ‘problem’ families at barracks

Empty homes at Howe Barracks in Canterbury will not be filled with “problem families” from London, a leading council officer assures.

Larissa Reed – whose responsibilities include private sector housing – spoke out amid claims Redbridge Borough Council plans to offload nuisance tenants on the Cathedral city.

The London council outbid Canterbury’s for 147 ex-army homes at the decommissioned barracks, which will be filled with families currently living in temporary accommodation.

Mrs Reed spoke to the Gazette as it emerged the first 20 homes would be occupied as early as next week.

She said: “They have told us the new tenants have very carefully been handpicked and have a good history.

“It is also important to stress this is not costing the city council anything. They are Redbridge’s housing responsibility.

“It may be easier for us to provide a resettlement worker because of local knowledge, but Redbridge would commission us to do that. Local church groups have also offered to help, but we are not going overboard and giving more than our own tenants would get.”

A meeting of Canterbury councillors on Monday was told how the rest of the barrack homes are likely to be filled in a phased occupation over the summer.

The move has caused anger among the thousands of people stuck on the local housing waiting list.

Cllr Michael Dixey (Lib Dem) said: “It has disaster written all over it. There is a lot of anger out there and it is a recipe for all sorts of problems.”

Council leader Simon Cook (Con) has already expressed his frustration at the ability of a London borough to snap up the ex-army properties and install people from its housing register in Canterbury.

At the meeting on Monday, Cllr Dixey, and fellow Lib Dem councillors Nick Eden-green and Charlotte Mccaul, proposed a motion backing the leader and calling on the Local Government Authority to press the government for a new provision in the Housing Act.

They want it to be illegal for local authorities to be able to buy property outside their bor- oughs and install tenants.

Cllr Dixey said: “They will be living in a virtual enclave up at the barracks and find it difficult to integrate.

“Other authorities being able to buy up property in Canterbury could open the floodgates to heaven knows what sort of problems in the future.

“We need to send out a clear message that the legislation needs urgent reconsideration.”

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Canterbury City Council officer Larissa Reid, left, said only handpicked families from Redbridge Borough Council will be moved to the former Howe Barrack site