THE FIGHT FOR BIGGER HOMES
Social housing problems:
A FAMILY of five trying to move out of their two-bedroom council house say they feel “ignored” by the authorities amid a “chronic” lack of social housing.
Stacey Watts and her partner Foysol Ahmad Ali, of Llandegfan on Anglesey, say they are “appalled” by their treatment, including allegedly being “overlooked” in favour of others from outside the area.
Stacey, 24, has lived in the village all her life and is determined to remain in the community, where the couple have lived on the Bro Llewelyn estate for six years.
She said: “We were given hope three weeks ago when a tenant put their notice in on a three-bedroom house in the village, so we contacted the council at once.
“We made sure to have supporting letters to back our case, and were told before the appointment that there would be no way the house would be allocated beforehand.”
But, according to Stacey, the meeting on Monday lasted no more than 10 minutes, and they were told the home had already been allocated to someone else.
“I’m apalled by the way we’ve been treated,” she said.
“We were basically told that we should ask other council tenants in bigger homes if they would swap.
“I would never have the cheek to go around knocking on people’s doors and asking such a thing.
“It’s especially galling when we see people with no apparent connection to Anglesey even getting homes before us.
“I plan to go back to work, but can only do so if I live in Llandegfan with the support of friends and family, due to the costs of childcare.”
Foysol, 30, who works in a Menai Bridge restaurant, said: “It feels we’re being ignored.
“We urgently need another bedroom. We have three children and can’t carry on like this for much longer.”
Meanwhile, a mum-of-one in Llandegfan is still living with her parents while she waits for an available home.
Jane Williams, 26, said: “It’s not really fair on my parents, but I don’t have much choice.
“I’ve been on the waiting list for 18 months now, and my father is battling cancer.
“It’s very stressful for everyone to have that to contend with, as well as a toddler living under the same roof.”
Local county councillor Carwyn Jones said the lack of council houses in the area is a “chronic” problem.
Cllr Jones said: “In the recent public consultation over social housing applications, overwhelming backing was given for local connections to be given the highest priority in such cases.
“But we have families who have lived in the village for generations being overlooked.
“I have seen for myself how difficult it is in such cramped conditions, and would urge the council to look into their situation. It’s unacceptable.”
Anglesey’s head of housing services, Shan Lloyd Williams, said: “We’re aware that there’s a lack of social housing on the island and that Llandegfan is one of the areas facing a shortage.
“Unfortunately, we can’t always provide alternative accommodation as quickly as we’d like, and appreciate the frustration this causes households, especially those with young families.
“We are working hard to tackle this important issue and are about to begin a new house-building programme, which we hope will see Anglesey’s council housing stock bolstered by at least 500 properties over the next 30 years.
“We are also working closely with housing association partners and Welsh Government to provide more social housing.”