Shelter from the Storm

(You'll have to just imagine the tune)

For the past couple of years I have had the pleasure of being co-opted on to a Tenants' Board at Lee Valley, which is an area on the eastern fringe of Liverpool comprised of ex council houses which have now been transferred to Housing Associations. Most of the flats that were there have been demolished which means that all the stock is now "family" houses. There has been a real need for smaller units to meet the needs of some older residents.

The need for social housing has never been greater. Not only is the population growing as we all grow much older than before, but we also live in ever smaller households so that the number of households is growing significantly. But sadly, Keynes has gone out of fashion and there has been very little social housing built in recent years. We have therefore been really pleased to be able to get this housing scheme off the ground. Joseph Williams Mews will have 56 apartments for rent and a further 14 for shared ownership by people over the age of 55. It will also have a community cafe and landscaped gardens.

Today, tenant board members were invited to see 2 of the apartments which are nearing completion. We tip toed through some mud in our glad rags on a cold and windy day, only to find that we were locked out. The site foreman was nowhere to be seen. Thankfully, he had not gone too far and when we got in, we were all very impressed by the standard of the flats.