Tenants in tower blocks being 'decanted' (closed down and people moved out) have been left to live in appalling conditions whilst the Housing Trust finds suitable accommodation for those leaving. This website has detailed the problems of living in a Hi Rise flat when it is mismanaged.

Serious Complaints ignored.

On Friday Oct 3rd (2003) I spoke to one of the KHT staff - Sandra Williams and asked her to ensure that lights in our communal areas and down the stairway were fixed. She agreed the situation I described was dangerous, but somehow, someone has forgotten to do the job over 72 hours later. That's nothing unusual with Knowsley Housing Trust. I also asked Sandra to remove dangerous metal security doors which the kids have been trying to move. I informed Sandra a child had been killed in London when one of these steel doors crushed him, she agreed it was dangerous, yet they have not been removed. I also question the legality of Knowsley housing Trust charging for concierge and security. Again, KHT want to dodge that issue as they want to seemingly dodge many other documented serious complaints over a variety of issues. In the KHT tenancy agreement - many of the 'promises' made by KHT are not being delivered on. Many tenants have not as yet signed this tenancy agreement.

Let's move the Housing Officer and put a new one in

KHT have decided in their wisdom to remove the previous housing officer Stephen Baines who dealt with tenants in the blocks currently being decanted. This housing officer was local, other ones have been from other areas, who, to be blunt, knew nothing about Kirkby nor the people who live here. Local knowledge is vital for housing officers - if we employ people from outside Kirkby then it only makes things worse. Now tenants will have deal with someone completely new. Are Knowsley Housing Trust management thick? (Ed: rhetorical question) The new housing officer means more work for the bureaucrats of KHT, more useless paperwork to be shuffled and yet more money used to basically duplicate the work already done. Those staff in KHT with a degree of common sense will agree that moving our housing officer is stupid.

Myself and other tenants were stunned to hear this officer had moved. Previous housing officers failed miserably to ensure any real decent standard of service despite promises being issued with almost evangelical zeal. I will email KHT to ask why the officer was moved and why tenants need to go through more interviews when we just to want to move from the slum we live in and KHT have created. To those working class staff in KHT who try to do a good job - thanks - it's what you're paid for - but it would be nice if you know the issues which need to be tackled and had some common sense. To KHT management - thanks for absolutely nothing. Please check out the mess you have created in the Kirkby Times Knowsley Housing Trust gallery of Shame. Hang your heads in shame as you view the memorial to Annie Sanderson.

Total Democracy means we all have to be accountable. The only people who fear Total democracy are Scoundrels. We have enough of those in Kirkby's political circles and seats of power. They must be stopped.