Latest news with #housingprotest
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Our homes make us ill' say Manchester social housing tenants
A woman who took part in a protest over the state of social housing has said her two children are "terrified" to be in their own home due to the condition of the 46, who lives on the Langley estate in Middleton, was among the groups demonstrating outside a housing conference at the Manchester Central exhibition said her children had suffered breathing problems because of damp at her home and called on her landlord Riverside Housing Association to take action. A spokesman for the provider said it had invested £3m on improving homes in the estate, but knew "there is much more to be done". Natalie, who did not want to give her surname, said she had to be rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung at one point and a specialist told her this was due to the condition of the told BBC Radio Manchester it was "absolutely disgusting" that her family still lived in the property, which has been infested with rats since March, despite their said her children refused to sleep in their own beds and were "terrified to live in their own home", adding that her daughter has autism and "cries every night"."Why should my little girl be absolutely terrified? A child should feel safe in their own home," she said. The Riverside spokesman said £3m had been spent on new kitchens, boilers, window and roof replacements on the estate, alongside £1.3m on insulation and ventilation in more than 200 homes.A dedicated damp and mould team had also been set up to "prioritise cases and ensure we act quickly and decisively," they 35, who also lives on the estate, said her daughter had been in hospital with multiple skin lesions caused by what a dermatologist said was the condition of their said they had been in temporary accommodation for nearly a year and "my daughter is now healthy again, miraculously".Becky said they did not want to return to their property and the stress of the situation had caused her to come out of work."We are still on lifelong medication because of that house," she said. Middleton Tenants Union, part of the Greater Manchester Tenants Union (GMTU), said it had been challenging Riverside for two years over 20 similar cases involving children exposed to damp and said Riverside's senior management team was refusing to meet with the union to discuss the cases and were instead directing tenants to the Housing said it remains "open to having transparent and constructive dialogue with GMTU and have met with them a number of times over the last two years".Kirby Hoyle, from the union, said the conditions were not fair on the said she was supporting tenants whose properties had rat infestations, damp, mould, asbestos, "general wear and tear", leaks and "roofs falling in".Riverside said customers had been invited to meet "one on one, or with GMTU as a tenant advocate."We know we don't always get things right and are sorry if there are occasions when we have let customers down, we always ensure we put things right and learn from any failures", it added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Families in a village that has already doubled in size protest against further 300 homes earmarked for the area
Residents in a village which has already doubled in size due to new housing are rallying together to protest against a further 300 new homes being built. Locals in Wharncliffe Side, Sheffield, say they are 'traumatised' at the prospect of hundreds of homes being built on their green belt land. The former farm village - which has an average house price of £318,939 - has a population of around 1,335 but over 1,000 new homes have been erected nearby in recent years. Residents say the village infrastructure cannot cope with more new properties and earlier this month hundreds of locals rallied to protest against the plans. Lead protester David Thornton, 62, says developers decided against building on the land 30 years ago, so he cannot understand why it is being considered now. He said: 'We've already had 1,000 or so houses built in this area. The whole community is traumatised by this whole idea. 'They looked at doing this 30 years ago and decided it wasn't viable and it's no different now. We don't have the access and certain parts of the land can't be built on because of drainage and flooding. 'There's all sorts of wildlife that have lived here for 50 or 60 years, like bats and badgers and butterflies.' Lead protester David Thornton (pictured) says developers decided against building on the land 30 years ago, so he cannot understand why it is being considered now Mr Thornton says the field is 'very important' to the local community and believes the residents will miss being able to use it. He added: 'It's used by the community. I live close to it and I'm very fortunate. I get the chance to see all the other local residents who use the space. 'Some of the older people who live in the village and some of the children are really, really upset that they might lose their field. 'It's very important to us. It's a unique and special space.' There are currently plans for more than 3,500 homes to be built on green belt land across the city and on Wednesday, May 14, Sheffield City Council held a meeting to decide if the properties should be constructed. The council voted to 'agree that exceptional circumstances now exist to justify the release of greenfield land in green belt for new development.' At the meeting, several local residents said they were concerned that the proposed plans will affect the wildlife in the local area. Jane Williams said: 'It is not a piece of wasteland but an area of nature. We are at a critical point in climate change, things have to be protected. 'How can Sheffield City Council justify using this particular piece of land when it is so rich, environmentally? 'Why more houses being built in Wharncliffe Side and the Deepcar area, in addition to the 1,000 houses being built or under construction? 'Why has there been no improvements to public transport? 'If this goes ahead, will Sheffield City Council ensure us that if this goes ahead, then any application to develop this land will be subject to the usual planning permissions?' Rebecca Johnston said: 'This is a unique, ecological site that is full of diverse species including badgers, newts and owls to name a few. 'How does the reclassification of green belt fit in with Sheffield City Council's ecological policy? 'The field absorbs a lot of water and prevents flooding from the river - how does this fit in with the flood management policy? 'The field provides exercise space that benefits residents' mental health - how does the policy fit in with the wider mental health strategy?'
