Westlea confirms extra cash for home adaptations work

Westlea Housing has announced extra funding of £125,000 for work to adapt the homes of residents with disabilities and mobility difficulties.

This commitment is in addition to grant funding provided by the local authority and has been pledged by Westlea in order to reduce the waiting list for this kind of work.

Pat Edwards of The Oaks, Chippenham is a Westlea resident who has benefited from the extra funding agreed for the current year. Mrs Edwards has just had her bathroom redesigned and the bath removed to make way for a level-access shower with grab rails.

"It's fabulous!" said Pat. "It wasn't easy for me to get in and out of the bath, so this has made all the difference. Now I can shower every day and I love it - actually I think I could spend all day in it!"

"Residents often tell us that they would like to see us spend more on aids and adaptations to the homes of people with disabilities," said Westlea's Asset Manager Chris Davies.

"In response to this, we have added £50,000 to the budget for the current financial year that ends this month and agreed to spend an additional £75,000 between April 2010 and March 2011 on this much-needed work to assist those who find it difficult to live in our standard properties.

"We are also accelerating applications between now and the end of this month and so hope to go into the new financial year with very few applicants on the list – clearing the way to deal swiftly with new applications from residents as they come in."

Westlea Housing residents who think they would benefit from an aid or adaptation to their home should contact either Shirley Davis or Jo Taylor on 01249 466061 for further information and advice.