£3m boost will help tenants move ahead
A key figure behind the proposed merger of Wishaw & District Housing Association insists tenants have a chance to draw a line under the past problems of the organisation.
Trust Housing Association’s CEO Rhona Mcleod insists the proposed deal, which includes £ 3 million of improvements and a rent freeze until April 2023, is a great deal for tenants.
She said: “We have received some excellent feedback from the tenants on the doorstep.
“The main things we have heard is that tenants are delighted with the commitment of the rent freeze and also staff remaining in Wishaw.
“We have also committed an extra £3 million for improvements which makes it an attractive proposition for people.
“This will bring together ourselves and a major organisation in Wishaw.
“They have had issues in the past but this is an opportunity to draw a line under it and move forward.”
Also included in the package, is a commitment to build around 50 new homes on the site of the former Tesco site on Wishaw Main Street, a long-running project which has taken years to get off the ground.
With the first phase of consultation now complete, Trust have confirmed the ballot for tenants to vote on the merger will take place between August 16 and September 19.
Should the proposals be rejected, WDHA faces more uncertainty following a review from the Scottish Housing Regulator which concluded that WDHA can no longer remain independent and that it is in the best interests of tenants for WDHA to transfer to another housing association.
Rhona added: “Having completed the first phase of the consultation, the next stage in the process is where tenants really have the chance to make their voices heard.
“This a very important part of our strategy. We have got two organisations which have a lot of strengths which gives us a good grounding going forward.
“At Trust we have homes in 23 different local authorities but if this merger is confirmed it will mean one third of our business will be in North Lanarkshire which means we will have roots down here in the community.”