Why is this house still standing empty? (From Southend Standard)
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Why is this house still standing empty?
12:00pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Echo News By Jon Austin
The empty house in Gardiners Close
NEIGHBOURS want to know why a family home has sat boarded up for two years when nearly 5,000 people are on Basildon Council’s housing waiting list.
Those living near the sizeable detached house in Gardiners Close, Basildon, have accused the authorities of allowing the “perfectly decent family home” to go to waste while homeless families struggle in hostels.
They also claim the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency has gone back on a promise to rent out the property after forcing the owner to sell up nearly two years ago.
They accused Basildon Council – which currently has about 4,895 people on its housing waiting list – of doing nothing to ensure the house is occupied.
The agency bought up the house from its owner as it needed the land for a major business park and homes development, which has since been shelved due to the economic climate.
Pauline Missing, 56, is one neighbour who has refused to sell up unless she is offered a better deal.
She said: “The Homes and Communities Agency promised this house would not just sit empty, it still is.
“It is a sizeable house that could be someone’s home, but it is just boarded up. Some of the windows have been smashed, and it completely brings down the area.”
Mrs Missing said the house should go to those in need, including a soldier she read about in the Echo who, despite having six children, has had to move into a hostel as no suitable homes for his family are available.
Mrs Missing also wants clarity about the proposed plans, and says their lives have been blighted with the threat of the business park development for the past 20 years.
She said: “We are still living in limbo and have no idea what will eventually happen.
“We have asked the council to help, but they can’t tell us anything and have been unable to get anything sorted about the empty house.”
A spokeswoman for the agency said: “Discussions are ongoing with Basildon Council regarding lease arrangements for the property in question.
“It has been secured with metal sheeting and is alarmed – this triggers a security inspection should it be set off.
“Regular inspections also take place and the estate manager has an established relationship with residents who he describes as ‘responsive’ and who know to get in touch to report any issues which are promptly dealt with.”
A council spokesman added: “This is a matter for the Homes and Communities Agency, and they are dealing with it.”
Comments(21)
Eric Whim
says...
12:19pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Mrs Missing said the house should go to those in need, including a soldier she read about in the Echo who, despite having six children, has had to move into a hostel as no suitable homes for his family are available
five not six, but she's right this would, with some work, make an ideal home for Robert and his family.
exBillericayDicky
says...
12:55pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Absolutely a valid comment, but is flipped by:
" Some of the windows have been smashed, and it completely brings down the area.”
So is she more concerned about the area, or the empty house?
The article starts about an empty boarded up house, but, the area is marked for redevelopment (with compulsory purchases?) So even though the plans are shelved, the permissions I expect are still valid, and therefore have to be changed back to residential before moving anyone back in. Also, why move people in if in, say, 2 months you have to evict them?
Eric Whim
says...
1:15pm Tue 18 Sep 12
It seems peculiar to me that this property is still more or less intact and left standing.
As someone who walks/cycles along Gardiners Close on a reguar basis I've often wondered about the fate of what on the outside looks like a perfectly servicable (apart from one or two vandalisdwindows) property.
SpaffSpiff84
says...
1:16pm Tue 18 Sep 12
cagedtiger
says...
1:27pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Bester wrote:Though i agree with what you are saying i just wanted to point out that i myself have my rent paid by DSS, i cant work because of health reasons, and although a lot of people who are on benefits may well be trouble makers for instance my neighbour is a drugged up waster, we are not all scum i never cause any neighbours any problems and i wish i could afford to live elsewhere. just asking that people don't always go with the stereotype.
So, neighbours would rather the house be occupied by a DSS family? They need to be careful what they wish for. I have a great deal of experience of living next door to DSS households and it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
Leighdweller
says...
1:40pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Eric Whim wrote:Just becasue it looks serviceable doesn't mean that it is. Often, there will be a minimum level of repair, perhaps including dampworks, new boiler, redocoration etc.
Another house on the same side of the Close but located between the Ford Social Club and the junction with Gardiners Lane was emptied, boarded up and within weeks razed to the ground. It seems peculiar to me that this property is still more or less intact and left standing. As someone who walks/cycles along Gardiners Close on a reguar basis I've often wondered about the fate of what on the outside looks like a perfectly servicable (apart from one or two vandalisdwindows) property.
If the place is going to be flattened soon, is that a wise use of the Local Authorities money?
Basildon.lad.21
says...
1:54pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Bester wrote:Couldnt agree more. Id love to have no one living next door to me.
So, neighbours would rather the house be occupied by a DSS family? They need to be careful what they wish for. I have a great deal of experience of living next door to DSS households and it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
rjsizzler
says...
3:37pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Basildon.lad.21 wrote:I'd also suggest that plenty of people living in mortgaged or privately rented houses are capable of being equally awful neighbours. It's quite ignorant to generalise.
Bester wrote: So, neighbours would rather the house be occupied by a DSS family? They need to be careful what they wish for. I have a great deal of experience of living next door to DSS households and it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.Couldnt agree more. Id love to have no one living next door to me.
(And no, I'm not on any form of benefits.)
yids are back
says...
6:00pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Rochford Rob
says...
1:28pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Blondie!x
says...
4:13pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Bester wrote:Why don't the spondgers go and get a job like normal people have to, to support their families instead of waiting for working peoples money to come in so the government can build more council houses.
So, neighbours would rather the house be occupied by a DSS family? They need to be careful what they wish for. I have a great deal of experience of living next door to DSS households and it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
Devils Advocate
says...
9:25pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Bester
says...
8:36am Fri 21 Sep 12
cagedtiger wrote:I agree that not all DSS tenants are trouble makers. But, in my experience, all of the worst trouble makers have been DSS. I've had them all living next door to me - drug users, drug dealers, child abusers, fare dodgers, thieves, fraudsters - and every single one of them were DSS. So, if I had the choice of living next door to an empty house or DSS tenants, I know exactly what I would choose (and my choice would be based entirely on my personal experiences, rather than any stereotype).
Bester wrote: So, neighbours would rather the house be occupied by a DSS family? They need to be careful what they wish for. I have a great deal of experience of living next door to DSS households and it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.Though i agree with what you are saying i just wanted to point out that i myself have my rent paid by DSS, i cant work because of health reasons, and although a lot of people who are on benefits may well be trouble makers for instance my neighbour is a drugged up waster, we are not all scum i never cause any neighbours any problems and i wish i could afford to live elsewhere. just asking that people don't always go with the stereotype.
E- Types.
says...
2:23pm Fri 21 Sep 12
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Devils Advocate
says...
10:38pm Fri 21 Sep 12
E- Types. wrote:Just back from a short break in Hastings. The site we stayed on was a wreck. Higgledy piggledy "improvements" such as verandas stretched the full 30 yards of the pitches, the timber of those same verandas left untreated and rotting. badly laid out vans with no thought of fire safety regarding distance between. Disgustingly filthy windows and outside metalwork which seemed to have never been cleaned, and me spending half my "break" trying to make it look a little more habitable, so yes, I have lots against caravans, or at least, the folk who let them!
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Why do you ask?
I never said anything about the vans. It was the idea of demolishing a brick-built structure to allow replacement by a non permanent one. That is, of course, if this is the proposed area of siting caravans!
E-Types...
says...
11:30pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Devils Advocate wrote:Ignore him, he pretends to be a Traveller to incite abuse of Travellers...its all in hand!
E- Types. wrote:Just back from a short break in Hastings. The site we stayed on was a wreck. Higgledy piggledy "improvements" such as verandas stretched the full 30 yards of the pitches, the timber of those same verandas left untreated and rotting. badly laid out vans with no thought of fire safety regarding distance between. Disgustingly filthy windows and outside metalwork which seemed to have never been cleaned, and me spending half my "break" trying to make it look a little more habitable, so yes, I have lots against caravans, or at least, the folk who let them!
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Why do you ask?
I never said anything about the vans. It was the idea of demolishing a brick-built structure to allow replacement by a non permanent one. That is, of course, if this is the proposed area of siting caravans!
Devils Advocate
says...
11:45pm Sat 22 Sep 12
E-Types... wrote:pack it up fella. What I said is what I meant, no need for your fantasies. If you can't answer my question, as I answered yours, then why bother posting at all. As for your "He pretends to be" etc. that is your twist and is not clever. When I quoted "The site we stayed at" I was referring to a commercial site. I rented a holiday caravan from Hoseasons at Hastings on The west ridge for a 4 day short break. Don't try to instigate trouble with your trolling attitude. Read the posts and, if you wish to comment, at least quote facts!
Devils Advocate wrote:Ignore him, he pretends to be a Traveller to incite abuse of Travellers...its all in hand!
E- Types. wrote:Just back from a short break in Hastings. The site we stayed on was a wreck. Higgledy piggledy "improvements" such as verandas stretched the full 30 yards of the pitches, the timber of those same verandas left untreated and rotting. badly laid out vans with no thought of fire safety regarding distance between. Disgustingly filthy windows and outside metalwork which seemed to have never been cleaned, and me spending half my "break" trying to make it look a little more habitable, so yes, I have lots against caravans, or at least, the folk who let them!
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Why do you ask?
I never said anything about the vans. It was the idea of demolishing a brick-built structure to allow replacement by a non permanent one. That is, of course, if this is the proposed area of siting caravans!
E-Types...
says...
8:30pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Devils Advocate wrote:If you look at the two user names you will see they are slightly different.
E-Types... wrote:pack it up fella. What I said is what I meant, no need for your fantasies. If you can't answer my question, as I answered yours, then why bother posting at all. As for your "He pretends to be" etc. that is your twist and is not clever. When I quoted "The site we stayed at" I was referring to a commercial site. I rented a holiday caravan from Hoseasons at Hastings on The west ridge for a 4 day short break. Don't try to instigate trouble with your trolling attitude. Read the posts and, if you wish to comment, at least quote facts!
Devils Advocate wrote:Ignore him, he pretends to be a Traveller to incite abuse of Travellers...its all in hand!
E- Types. wrote:Just back from a short break in Hastings. The site we stayed on was a wreck. Higgledy piggledy "improvements" such as verandas stretched the full 30 yards of the pitches, the timber of those same verandas left untreated and rotting. badly laid out vans with no thought of fire safety regarding distance between. Disgustingly filthy windows and outside metalwork which seemed to have never been cleaned, and me spending half my "break" trying to make it look a little more habitable, so yes, I have lots against caravans, or at least, the folk who let them!
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Why do you ask?
I never said anything about the vans. It was the idea of demolishing a brick-built structure to allow replacement by a non permanent one. That is, of course, if this is the proposed area of siting caravans!
The other E- Type is not I (E-Type...)
He has nearly copied the name to try stir up racial abuse against Travellers by pretending to be one.
I kid you not!
Devils Advocate
says...
1:06am Mon 24 Sep 12
E-Types... wrote:Right. I see the difference and will back away from this post. Had me fooled for a while there though!
Devils Advocate wrote:If you look at the two user names you will see they are slightly different.
E-Types... wrote:pack it up fella. What I said is what I meant, no need for your fantasies. If you can't answer my question, as I answered yours, then why bother posting at all. As for your "He pretends to be" etc. that is your twist and is not clever. When I quoted "The site we stayed at" I was referring to a commercial site. I rented a holiday caravan from Hoseasons at Hastings on The west ridge for a 4 day short break. Don't try to instigate trouble with your trolling attitude. Read the posts and, if you wish to comment, at least quote facts!
Devils Advocate wrote:Ignore him, he pretends to be a Traveller to incite abuse of Travellers...its all in hand!
E- Types. wrote:Just back from a short break in Hastings. The site we stayed on was a wreck. Higgledy piggledy "improvements" such as verandas stretched the full 30 yards of the pitches, the timber of those same verandas left untreated and rotting. badly laid out vans with no thought of fire safety regarding distance between. Disgustingly filthy windows and outside metalwork which seemed to have never been cleaned, and me spending half my "break" trying to make it look a little more habitable, so yes, I have lots against caravans, or at least, the folk who let them!
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Why do you ask?
I never said anything about the vans. It was the idea of demolishing a brick-built structure to allow replacement by a non permanent one. That is, of course, if this is the proposed area of siting caravans!
The other E- Type is not I (E-Type...)
He has nearly copied the name to try stir up racial abuse against Travellers by pretending to be one.
I kid you not!
E-Types...
says...
11:30am Mon 24 Sep 12
Devils Advocate wrote:Dont do that if you feel there is any more milage in the thread post..Dont let a racist inciter deter you from posting.
E-Types... wrote:Right. I see the difference and will back away from this post. Had me fooled for a while there though!
Devils Advocate wrote:If you look at the two user names you will see they are slightly different.
E-Types... wrote:pack it up fella. What I said is what I meant, no need for your fantasies. If you can't answer my question, as I answered yours, then why bother posting at all. As for your "He pretends to be" etc. that is your twist and is not clever. When I quoted "The site we stayed at" I was referring to a commercial site. I rented a holiday caravan from Hoseasons at Hastings on The west ridge for a 4 day short break. Don't try to instigate trouble with your trolling attitude. Read the posts and, if you wish to comment, at least quote facts!
Devils Advocate wrote:Ignore him, he pretends to be a Traveller to incite abuse of Travellers...its all in hand!
E- Types. wrote:Just back from a short break in Hastings. The site we stayed on was a wreck. Higgledy piggledy "improvements" such as verandas stretched the full 30 yards of the pitches, the timber of those same verandas left untreated and rotting. badly laid out vans with no thought of fire safety regarding distance between. Disgustingly filthy windows and outside metalwork which seemed to have never been cleaned, and me spending half my "break" trying to make it look a little more habitable, so yes, I have lots against caravans, or at least, the folk who let them!
Devils Advocate wrote:Do you have something against caravans?
I am not sure, but, how far from this house is the proposed site for some of our travelling neighbours? I hope we are not going to knock down houses to instate caravans!
Why do you ask?
I never said anything about the vans. It was the idea of demolishing a brick-built structure to allow replacement by a non permanent one. That is, of course, if this is the proposed area of siting caravans!
The other E- Type is not I (E-Type...)
He has nearly copied the name to try stir up racial abuse against Travellers by pretending to be one.
I kid you not!
Bester says...
12:10pm Tue 18 Sep 12