Chloe repeats calls for City Council action on housing repairs

Chloe Smith once again called on Norwich City Council to carry out essential maintenance work on council homes in the area.

As reported in the Evening News, Chloe supported constituents calling for urgent repairs to be carried out in houses on Bowers Avenue in January. She wrote to the City Council to inform officers about the poor conditions of the windows in the street and of the danger this posed to vulnerable residents. She is yet to receive a response to her letter on this subject, so has again contacted Norwich City Council to ask for an accurate timeframe in which the repairs will be carried out. Constituents have reported that although the Council have given them dates for the completion of works, contractors have consistently missed these deadlines. In her letter, therefore, she also urges the Council to honour these completion dates.

Chloe has also been taking action on behalf of residents of north city roads Hillmead and Millcroft, whose homes need window replacements. She submitted a Freedom of Information request to the City Council on 26th February and, in spite of sending two reminder letters, is awaiting a response. The homes in these streets are of a Wimpy No Fines construction and, although replacement is technically complex, residentssay the City Council has failed to provide confirmation that their windows will be upgraded from draughty single-glazing, whilst other homes nearby in the city are promised replacement by specified dates.

Since being elected, Chloe has been contacted by hundreds of social housing tenants who have told her about the state of their homes and the need for repairs to take place.

Commenting on the situation, Chloe said:

"This is not good enough. SIngle glazing is cold and expensive to run. Residents should not have to wait through another winter. Now is the time for the Council to solve this problem and make good on their commitment to replace city windows."