Gaining Ground for Sheltered Housing

Back from a Liberal Democrat Conference, which was superb.

As many of you know, I am an active campaigner for Sheltered Housing UK campaign to restore resident wardens to sheltered accommodation.

To Recap
It came to my attention that Barnett Council, attempted to remove resident wardens and were prevented by the High Court which has created a landmark case inspiring other residents to take up the fight.

In Ashford our resident wardens were removed in 2007 in favour of a peripatetic system which has rendered them vulnerable and assailable in their own homes.

This system is slowly being implemented across the country by various regional councils and often without consultation with residents, or done in such a way they are unaware of the negative effects until after it has occurred.

Sheltered Housing UK Association have been running a petition for some time nationally to prevent councils removing resident wardens and to reinstate those that have been removed already.

Having coordinated the campaign on behalf of Chris Took PPC in Kent, we took the campaign as a policy motion to the South East Regional Conference and it was passed, accruing wide ranging support. We then submitted a policy motion for the federal conference. Due to a variety of issues, this was rejected, but I did attend the conference with the campaign in mind.

My current results in Lobbying are Chris Huhne MP, Sarah Teather MP, Adrian Sanders MP, John Leech MP, Steve Webb MP and Catherine Bearder MEP.

As a result of the conference I am now able to add Jo Swinson to the campaign.

In addition to this, I gained wide ranging support from local officers I spoke with, and am continuing to campaign to restore resident wardens.

Indeed, Chris Took has listed Fairness for the Elderly as his number one pledge for Ashford and we are continuing to champion the campaign.

Please feel free to contact me with regards to this campaign.