Residents are ashamed of telling people where they live (From Warrington Guardian)

Residents are ashamed of telling people where they live

RESIDENTS are hoping for action to make their Winsford estate - which they describe as a 'shanty town' - more inhabitable.

Representatives from Wharton Gardens, the responsibility of Weaver Vale Housing Trust, met the trust's director of housing, Chris Rowbottom, on Friday to confront him with the estate's problems and find out how and when they can be tackled.

One 43-year-old resident, who has lived there for about four years, said: "Everyone here has had enough - windows are falling out, fences are falling down, gardens are a mess and nothing is being done - it's like a shanty town.

"People have just given up because they are not getting help to make improvements."

Another resident, 41, said: "People just want a decent standard of housing. I'm ashamed of telling people my address - the people on the estate are nice, but it's just the way it looks.

"People are trying to do their properties up as best they can but haven't got the heart - why should we spend our own money but live in these conditions where nothing is being done?

Chris Rowbottom said the trust was starting consultation exercises with residents of the Wharton Garden estate, as well as residents of the Over and Crook Lane estates, to highlight suggested improvements.

A newsletter will be sent to residents this week to inform them about the consultation and how they can get involved.

Chris said: "We have recently met with two of our residents to talk about the consultation on the Wharton Garden estate.

"It was a very constructive meeting and all parties concerned felt we are moving in the right direction.

"It is always important to us to listen to our customers' views and we actively encourage people to contact us directly if they would like to get involved in the consultation process or have any concerns."