[IMC-bristol] Fw:
A Johnston
alexander.johnston1 at btopenworld.com
Fri, 20 Dec 2002 15:36:13 -0000
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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BLEAK TIMES Jan - Dec 2002=20
=20
Council Tenants Against The Sell-Off
=20
=20
=20
January - "Action has been called for to clean up Somer housing estates =
which have become a blot on the landscape. No one at Somer Housing =
Management Company was available for comment.
=20
February - A new contractor has been appointed to finish Somers new =
=A35m offices. Work on the new headquarters ground to a halt in November =
when the contractors went bankrupt.
=20
Angry traders demand action after car park turns into a lake every time =
it rains.The highways dpt alerted Somer Housing which owns the shop and =
land. However confusion reigns as Somer claims the land is owned by =
B&NES Council.
=20
March - Funeral Directors rent out empty Somer shop.there is a chapel of =
rest that has been blessed by the Rev Ken Shill. When asked if there =
would be a discount for Somer Housing tenants a spokesman declined to =
comment.
=20
B&NES Council will get an unexpected windfall from the sale of Somer =
housing under Right to Buy. Each year Somer makes a lump payment to the =
council from the receipt of the sale of properties from the previous =
year.this year Somer will pay B&NES Council =A33.7m.
=20
April - It is revealed that Somer Housing tenants have been paying =
approximately =A310 pw (=A34.7m) of their rent money over the past 3 =
years in interest charges on Somers bank loans.This turns out to be more =
than Somer are spending on their annual repairs bill.
=20
May - Somer Housing boss admits to concerns over Somers ability to =
service its substantial debts of =A387m (Somer Housing Investment =
summary 2002 refers)
=20
July - A =A350,000 stretch limousine pulled up on a Somer housing estate =
to deliver two people who know how to play. Baz and Kat are Whiteways =
new community play rangers. At the launch families were treated to a =
giant inflatable figure of the Chief Executive of Somer Housing who =
kindly donated the rangers striking Purple and Black uniforms with glow =
in the dark insignia.
=20
August - Cllr Betty Perry is appalled by the waste of money at Somer =
Housing where doors which are to be replaced are being painted.No wonder =
our rents are so high concluded the Cllr.
=20
September - Residents at Somers sheltered housing schemes were unable to =
contact an emergency call centre for several days.no one at Somer =
Housing was available for comment.
=20
Anger over housing chiefs big pay rise.the chief executive of Somer Mr =
Alan Ward has landed a whopping 24 per cent pay increase. A survey found =
that Somer boss Alan Ward received the biggest salary rise of all his =
counterparts at housing associations across the UK last year.tenants =
Steve and Kathy were unimpressed as they battle with sloping floors and =
doors which are falling of their hinges.
=20
October - The =A379m consideration for the sale of B&NES Council's =
housing stock to Somer Housing is contrary to law. I have written in =
similar terms to the Chief Executive. (District Auditors letter dated =
24/10/2002 refers)
=20
Tenants distress after rats found in bedroom.Vermin have been found =
running through buildings owned by Somer Housing.When I telephoned Somer =
they said it had nothing to do with them and not to worry, as they were =
only mice.
=20
November - Somer Housing under fire again.seven had to sleep in =
waterlogged home despite repeated pleas to Somer Housing for help.
=20
Somer Housing boss publicly claims 400 new homes to rent have been built =
since the sell-off 3 years ago. B&NES Council's official records =
subsequently reveal that only 100 new homes to rent have been provided =
whilst 870 have been sold off under right to buy.
=20
December - Living in ignorance.survey on tenants homes shelved.unfit for =
human habitation."
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
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<DIV class=3DSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D7><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 48pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">BLEAK=20
TIMES</SPAN></FONT><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Jan – Dec=20
2002 </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Council Tenants Against The =
Sell-Off</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">January – “Action has been called =
for to clean up Somer=20
housing estates which have become a blot on the landscape. No one at =
Somer=20
Housing Management Company was available for =
comment…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">February – A new contractor has been =
appointed to finish=20
Somers new =A35m offices. Work on the new headquarters ground to a halt =
in=20
November when the contractors went bankrupt…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Angry traders demand action after car park =
turns into a=20
lake every time it rains…The highways dpt alerted Somer Housing =
which owns the=20
shop and land. However confusion reigns as Somer claims the land is =
owned by=20
B&NES Council…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">March – Funeral Directors rent out empty =
Somer=20
shop…there is a chapel of rest that has been blessed by the Rev =
Ken Shill. When=20
asked if there would be a discount for Somer Housing tenants a spokesman =
declined to comment…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">B&NES Council will get an unexpected =
windfall from=20
the sale of Somer housing under Right to Buy. Each year Somer makes a =
lump=20
payment to the council from the receipt of the sale of properties from =
the=20
previous year…this year Somer will pay B&NES Council=20
=A33.7m…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">April – It is revealed that Somer =
Housing tenants have=20
been paying approximately =A310 pw (=A34.7m) of their rent money over =
the past 3=20
years in interest charges on Somers bank loans…This turns out to =
be more than=20
Somer are spending on their annual repairs bill…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">May – Somer Housing boss admits to =
concerns over Somers=20
ability to service its substantial debts of =A387m (Somer Housing =
Investment=20
summary 2002 refers)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">July – A =A350,000 stretch limousine =
pulled up on a Somer=20
housing estate to deliver two people who know how to play. Baz and Kat =
are=20
Whiteways new community play rangers. At the launch families were =
treated to a=20
giant inflatable figure of the Chief Executive of Somer Housing who =
kindly=20
donated the rangers striking Purple and Black uniforms with glow in the =
dark=20
insignia…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">August – Cllr Betty Perry is appalled by =
the waste of=20
money at Somer Housing where doors which are to be replaced are being =
painted…No=20
wonder our rents are so high concluded the Cllr…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">September – Residents at Somers =
sheltered housing=20
schemes were unable to contact an emergency call centre for several =
days…no one=20
at Somer Housing was available for comment…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Anger over housing chiefs big pay =
rise…the chief=20
executive of Somer Mr Alan Ward has landed a whopping 24 per cent pay =
increase.=20
A survey found that Somer boss Alan Ward received the biggest salary =
rise of all=20
his counterparts at housing associations across the UK last =
year…tenants Steve=20
and Kathy were unimpressed as they battle with sloping floors and doors =
which=20
are falling of their hinges…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Copperplate Gothic Bold" =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Copperplate Gothic =
Bold'">October – The=20
=A379m consideration for the sale of B&NES Council’s housing =
stock to Somer=20
Housing is contrary to law. I have written in similar terms to the Chief =
Executive. (District Auditors letter dated 24/10/2002=20
refers)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Tenants distress after rats found in =
bedroom…Vermin have=20
been found running through buildings owned by Somer Housing…When I =
telephoned=20
Somer they said it had nothing to do with them and not to worry, as they =
were=20
only mice…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">November – Somer Housing under fire =
again…seven had to=20
sleep in waterlogged home despite repeated pleas to Somer Housing for=20
help…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Somer Housing boss publicly claims 400 new =
homes to rent=20
have been built since the sell-off 3 years ago. B&NES =
Council’s official=20
records subsequently reveal that only 100 new homes to rent have been =
provided=20
whilst 870 have been sold off under right to =
buy…</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt">December – Living in =
ignorance…survey on tenants homes=20
shelved…unfit for human habitation…”</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><![if =
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