Council neglects the elderly

Now RMBC are doing everything in their power to close communal centres, which tenants pay for. This is not to be confused with community centres that are funded by RMBC.

The latest attack on the elderly and vulnerable is to increase the laundry charge by 250 per cent from 85p to £3.17.

The director of housing, Mr Dave Richmond, says they have to make it viable.

But RMBC created this problem by finishing the wardens, who tenants used to pay for — the wardens used to collect the money and take it to the council on a monthly basis.

At that time it was £1 wash, £1 a dry on my complex, but when wardens were finished no one was prepared to collect the money.

Then the council put in health and wellbeing enablers, who were only allowed to register the tenant as being seen on a daily basis. We were told due to health and safety this was all they were allowed to do (translate as insurance).

So when I had a discussion with Mr Richmond I offered him an alternative solution, which I had made before, of putting slots on machines of £1 per machine. He said it was too expensive, but I said perhaps the energy company could put meters on machines and collect the money when reading the metres, which would then make sure the facilities were not abused and everyone paid.

But because there is now no longer sheltered housing, and fit working people are occupying bungalows, who they have given the right to opt out of paying extra on rent for laundry facilities, the council are deliberately making them non-viable.

Mr Richmond said slots were not considered because of expense and collection of money. If laundry facilities are closed, which I believe is their aim, what do the council expect the elderly to do, buy washing machines at their time of life? If they have the money, who is going to put fittings in the bungalows? I was told this was not necessary because of laundry facilities when signing my contract of tenancy.

As for drying clothes, elderly tenants, most of which have disabilities, can’t peg out washing, so will have no alternative but to use radiators, creating yet another problem, damp, costing RMBC more money.

Well done RMBC, what an uncaring socialist council you have turned into.

Stop listening to overpaid pen pushers and challenge them on what the consequences and long term effects of their proposals maybe.

The council will be considering the next increase in rent just now and will have to work within a certain percentage. If they put £3.17 on the rent for older and vulnerable tenants, will this be a legal increase? The council have already broken the contracts of tenancy and have not had the good manners to inform tenants or their relatives that they are no longer in sheltered housing.

Please don’t blame the cuts because you created these problems when you finished the wardens.

Why are you neglecting the elderly and vulnerable with your cuts? The elderly are now left with nothing and no one to talk to and confide in and only loneliness to look forward to, particularly those with no relatives. Money could be used from the planning budget, instead of pandering to the likes of Tesco and other big businesses, like the money spent on St Anne’s roundabout and Effingham Square to accommodate Tesco, etc.

P Connell, Aughton, Swallownest