Housing chiefs called to answer cold weather queries

HOUSING Executive representatives are to be quizzed by Banbridge District councillors on their performance during the recent cold snap when hundreds of homes in the area suffered from the aftermath of the severe weather conditions.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Feb 2011, 14:43 BST

Councillor Joan Baird asked for a meeting to be arranged ahead of a scheduled meeting in September when the Housing Executive will present its 2011-2012 District Housing Plan.

“Some people are still out of their homes due to frost-related problems and many concerns have been raised by tenants in Housing Executive property over the last two months,” said Mrs Baird. “I would like to see Housing Executive representatives here to answer questions relating to their emergency contingency plans and tell us what is being done to get people back into their homes.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Councillor Liz Ingram said she was disappointed with the Housing Executive’s telephone network over the severe weather period when tenants needed help and advice. “You just couldn’t get through,” she said. “You might as well have been trying to get in contact with NI Water.

“I am disappointed with the Housing Executive’s performance during the period of frost and ice and I know of one elderly lady who was in difficulty and needed help, yet no-one came back to her the next day as promised.”

It was agreed to ask representatives to attend a meeting ahead of the scheduled meeting in September to answer some of the councillors’ queries in relation to the cold weather response to Executive homes in the district.

Related topics:NI Water