Fairbarn Drive, Stannington

[Ms Macbeth]

Quite right Plantpot,All the trouble seems to be centered around the shops and multi story flats which used to be a lovely place for the more mature members of society, but the council in their wisdom as usual have turned these flats into a ghetto where the elderly now don't want to live and cannot get out fast enough.

The trouble is most of the elderly members of our society are now too old and infirm to go to the trouble of moving to another home and so they now have got to end their days surrounded by drunks, drug takers and all the other social misfits.

And the council don't give a damn.

It is about time the social workers and the doogooders concentrated on careing for the elderly instead of the no hopers who do not appreciate what is being done for them.

 

Its usually the actions of a few residents that cause problems for their neighbours. The council don't get together and decide to purposely make life hell for anyone. They don't have meetings where they pick on parts of the city to turn in to ghettos. One of the problems is when no older person wants a flat in a block that was designated for the elderly. What would be your solution for finding suitable tenants for these? Landlords can't afford to leave them empty.

 

My view is that many neighbour problems have escalated since the police stopped being the point of contact for nuisance and noise issues. In the 'old days' a visit from the local bobby often contained problems before they started. For a long time its been up to housing organisations and local authorities to try and deal with neighbour issues, but they have neither the image of the police, or the power to do anything quickly.

 

The increase in anti social behaviour has been the result of government changes to nuisance policies rather than councils not giving a damn. Sadly there has also been a downward spiral in behaviour and respect for others, and some areas of housing suffer more than others.

[nosy nellie]

If you asked the few elderly residents thet still live on these flats they will tell you all the trouble started when the council lowered the age restrictions on these flats.

Thus as soon as the younger members of society were allowed to apply for a flat it was a downward spiral to the ghetto it now is.

This is why I blame the council.

Another reason is the council got rid of the live in caretakers on these flats who had pride in their work and did more than their job description to make sure the residents were happy and safe.

Edited July 19, 2011 by nosy nellie

[Ms Macbeth]

If you asked the few elderly residents thet still live on these flats they will tell you all the trouble started when the council lowered the age restrictions on these flats.

Thus as soon as the younger members of society were allowed to apply for a flat it was a downward spiral to the ghetto it now is.

This is why I blame the council.

Another reason is the council got rid of the live in caretakers on these flats who had pride in their work and did more than their job description to make sure the residents were happy and safe.

 

I totally understand, and I've heard the same from tenants who I've worked with. But, as I asked in my previous post, when no-one over 60 wants one of the flats what do you suggest the council should do? Just leave them empty?

 

Caretakers do make a great difference, but they are costly, and it is expensive for those tenants who have to pay their rent in full. When I worked in Rotherham, I was a housing officer for the one and only high rise block in the town. It wasn't age banded, but there were always people keen to take the flats there. The caretaker/handyman lived on site, and there were rarely any problems.

[nosy nellie]

As far back as I can remember there was never any shortage of elderly people wanting these flats until the age rules were changed.

These flats had a Friendship club,Outings for the tennants run by themselves,Bingo Clubs and Birthday party's held in the foyer which was spotless.

My mother and her friend lived on these flats from the start and in the last years of their lifes had to endure sleepless nights, abuse, and vandalism,and watch the building they had such good times in and were happy in go to rack and ruin.

The seating they used for their clubs was set on fire and ripped until finally it had to be taken out,which meant a lot of them did not socialise any more.

What would have been wrong with the powers that be to spend a little money money to look after our elderly people?