Published: April 15, 2008
Burnham MP meets worried residents at sheltered housing centre

Burnham-On-Sea MP David Heathcoat-Amory has met with residents of a sheltered accommodation complex in the town to discuss their security and staffing concerns.

The meeting was arranged at Elizabeth Court, a complex consisting of over 40 flats which provide sheltered accommodation to elderly and disabled residents, by Cliff Puddy, Chairman of the Tenants Association, and Cllr Arthur Thorogood.

The residents turned out in force to voice their concerns and told Mr Heathcoat-Amory that they feel they are ‘the forgotten few’ since nothing has been done to rectify problems at the centre.

The residents' main concern is regarding inadequate security at the centre. This became apparent when the window of one flat inhabited by an 80-year-old was recently completely ripped out by an intruder.

The consensus of opinion among the residents was that there needs to be either 24-hour security coverage at the centre or a scheme where a dedicated team would be on hand day and night to provide extra care and security.

It was suggested that there may be a charity or lottery fund that would be willing a give a donation to help solve the problems as resisdents claimed that Sedgemoor Council is not meeting their needs.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory told the residents they had not been forgotten by Sedgemoor Council but the problem has arisen because they are in a tight financial position due to their £1.8m financial defecit.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory promised to write to the Chief Executive of Homes in Sedgemoor to see if a solution could be found.