Latest news with #SouthernHousing
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Great-grandmother, 86, ordered by housing association to remove plant pots outside her home as it would 'stop them cutting the grass'
An 86-year-old great-grandmother has been told the plant pots outside her home could be 'disposed of' if she fails to remove them. Mary Murphy placed the six garden accessories beneath a tree on a small patch of communal ground outside the house in Sittingbourne, Kent, in July last year. But now the housing association for Tannery Court is threatening to relocate or remove the pots amid fears they could 'stop them cutting the grass'. Ms Murphy - who has lived in the town for more than 30 years and in the block of flats for four - spent £50 on the pots, hydrangeas, Japanese pieris seeds and compost. However, earlier this month, the Tannery Court housing association told the pensioner to move the pots in order to keep communal areas clear. Despite Ms Murphy's protests, Southern Housing have now said if she does not remove them by July 3, they will 'dispose of or sell' them. Ms Murphy said: 'I love my plants and don't want them taken away. 'I was told by a manager that the area has to be kept clear as it is a fire evacuation route. 'But there's a perfectly good path next to it. Who in their 70s or 80s is going to go over very uneven grass or even shrubs? 'The residents here think it's ridiculous. It's not just me. 'Everyone compliments me on them even the postman and the Amazon delivery driver. 'But I was told by the manager that it is not up for discussion. 'It's red tape gone mad. You have the right to make your surroundings nice.' The grandmother-of-five believes her housing association was alerted to the planters after another local 'savaged' the shrubs earlier this month. On June 12, Southern Housing told the pensioner to relocate the pots to her own garden or the designated area for resident gardening. It said this was due to its rules on keeping communal areas clear and that she was in breach of her tenancy agreement. Ms Murphy, while acknowledging she has broken the agreement, argued during a meeting with estate managers on June 18 that the pots are not causing any harm in their current location. The former Swale Motors service receptionist manager specifically bought the pots so she could see them from her kitchen window and block the 'awful and depressing' view of the bins directly opposite her flat. Despite her protests, management put a notice through her door the next day, stating that if she did not remove the pots by Thursday, July 3, they would 'dispose of or sell' them. Mss Murphy said the 'ridiculous' order is 'red tape gone mad'. A Southern Housing spokesman said: 'We've a designated area for residents' plants and gardening at Tannery Court which is available for everybody to enjoy. 'We work with residents to keep all remaining communal outdoor spaces free, as agreed within their tenancy agreement. 'If we allowed items in this area, it would prevent our grounds maintenance team carrying out contracted works, such as grass cutting and de-weeding. 'This work is covered by an annual service charge that our residents pay, so it's important this work is upheld to a high standard. 'Our team have been in touch with Ms Murphy who has refused the alternative locations we've presented to her. 'This includes moving her plants to the designated area or within her own raised garden area outside the front of her home. 'We encourage everyone to use communal areas considerately, so they remain enjoyable for all residents.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents concerned over tower blocks redevelopment
Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be rehomed. Southern Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Court. Esther Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as "very upsetting". A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained "strongly committed" to supporting residents throughout the transition. Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future plans. Ms Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the road. She said she was worried about where she would move to and "didn't understand it all". "It's devastating, I love my flat," she added. Southern Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be relocated. Each Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added. Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was "distraught". "I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people," he said. The redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to "the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks", according to the housing association. "Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs," a spokesperson said. "We've carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents. "We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Housing tenants 'in limbo' over demolition plans Southern Housing tenants in damp and mould 'hell'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents concerned over tower blocks redevelopment
Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be rehomed. Southern Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Court. Esther Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as "very upsetting". A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained "strongly committed" to supporting residents throughout the transition. Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future plans. Ms Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the road. She said she was worried about where she would move to and "didn't understand it all". "It's devastating, I love my flat," she added. Southern Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be relocated. Each Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added. Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was "distraught". "I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people," he said. The redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to "the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks", according to the housing association. "Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs," a spokesperson said. "We've carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents. "We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Housing tenants 'in limbo' over demolition plans Southern Housing tenants in damp and mould 'hell'
BBC News
07-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
St Leonard's tower blocks residents concerned over redevelopment
Residents in four East Sussex tower blocks that are due to be demolished have voiced concerns over where they will be Housing plans to redevelop Four Courts in Stonehouse Drive, St Leonards, a 1960s social housing scheme comprising Bevin Court, Roosevelt Court, Kennedy Court and Churchill Eastwood, who moved in to her flat 27 years ago, described the situation as "very upsetting".A Southern Housing spokesperson said the provider remained "strongly committed" to supporting residents throughout the transition. Residents held a meeting on Saturday to discuss future Eastwood said she needed help each day from her daughter, who lives down the said she was worried about where she would move to and "didn't understand it all"."It's devastating, I love my flat," she Housing said nine households had already moved into permanent new homes, with residents of Bevin Court the first to be Bevin Court resident had a dedicated resettlement officer and every household received one-to-one visits, it added. Simon Lee is one of those who has been relocated and said he was happy with his new flat but said he had a friend who was "distraught"."I think they have massively underestimated the social impact this is having on people," he redevelopment is estimated to take around 12 years, and is needed due to "the significant shortcomings of the existing blocks", according to the housing association."Many homes lack proper accessibility, presenting real challenges for those with mobility needs," a spokesperson said."We've carefully considered all options and believe this is a unique opportunity to create new, high-quality social homes that better serve the needs of current and future residents. "We encourage any resident with concerns or questions to get in touch with our team so we can continue to provide the support they need."
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
'Telling my children we can go home felt amazing'
A woman who won a battle to move into the house in which her mother was stabbed to death said it felt "amazing" telling her family the Lambourne has been describing how the support of her community forced a U-turn from a housing Housing, which owns the property, initially said Ms Lambourne, who had previously lived at the property, had no legal right to the tenancy as she was not considered to be "in housing need"."To be able to tell my children we could go home felt amazing," Ms Lambourne said. She said the decision felt like "a weight off my shoulders", adding: "I was expecting bad news to be completely honest."I didn't think it would go the way it did."She said she burst into tears when she heard the news. She said: "I've pushed and pushed for this, but with the support of the community fighting my corner it has made the difference." Rita Lambourne was killed in her home in Bexhill, East Sussex, in Lambourne had previously said she and her three children had left her mother's home because it was overcrowded, but the pair had agreed to swap her Southern Housing flat with her mother's property in a mutual exchange. Rother District Council and Southern Housing released a joint statement on Wednesday confirming they would now be allowing her to move said they took the decision given "the tragic and exceptional circumstances in this case".Ms Lambourne said: "Losing mum was the worst thing that could have happened. "This place was our last connection to her."A man is due to stand trial in August charged with Ms Lambourne's murder.
