Brighton council tenant highlights ‘chronic disrepair’ blighting estate

A Brighton council tenant pleaded with housing chiefs to fix holes in the roof on an estate that he said had fallen into “chronic disrepair”.

Stanmer Heights in Hollingbury

Michael Jenkins, of Stanmer Heights, in Hollingbury, said: “The council is the registered social landlord for Stanmer Heights.”

Mr Jenkins said that the council – as landlord – owed a duty of care to the people who lived there.

He said: “Stanmer Heights has been falling into chronic disrepair for more than 20 months.”

The problems included, he said, “holes in the roofs, cables dangling from the walls, derelict satellite dishes, an aerial down on the roof, a derelict bin in a bin area … and much more.”

And in the Gathering Place there, he said, the doors were falling off the gas meters’ cabinet.

Mr Jenkins added: “Please will the chair of the housing committee formally create an all-encompassing care plan for Stanmer Heights?”

He made his plea at a Brighton and Hove City Council meeting at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Thursday 25 July).

Councillor John Allcock, the new chair of the Housing and New Homes Committee, the said: “We take the maintenance of all of our homes across the city very seriously and recognise the importance of looking after the inside and the outside of homes and estates.

“In light of resident feedback around improving the look and feel of estates, we have recently set up a new ‘environmental improvements’ budget of £500,000 per year to address concerns residents have about the outside of homes, blocks and estates.

“This is in addition to our existing investment in repairs, planned and major works and our Estate Development Budget.

“I would encourage you to continue to work with us through this project and put forward your ideas for Stanmer Heights.

“We are confirming the details of meetings across the city to consider ideas that residents have with officers and councilors and will provide details of the meeting for Hollingdean and Stanmer shortly.

“And this would be a good way to engage with the wider community around improving the area.

Councillor John Allcock

“It is important to note that you don’t have to wait for the meeting to submit your ideas.

“You can do that now – and I know you will do that – and our teams will begin working on any they can start with as soon as possible.

“At the same time I appreciate that some of your concerns are around repair areas that we can pick up now.

“I would encourage you to report repairs to us either through phoning our repairs helpdesk or by email if that’s easier.

“I have also asked officers to follow up on the repairs that you have highlighted in your question today as well as the guttering and overflow problems you emailed me with yesterday and asked them to make sure they are addressed.”

Mr Jenkins asked Councillor Allcock to visit Stanmer Heights to see the situation for himself.

Councillor Allcock said that he would visit the flats as soon as he could.