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Young Bridgwater mother pleads for new house

12:50pm Monday 28th December 2009


A young mother from Bridgwater is pleading with her housing association to move her to a new house.

Zoë Vanstone, from Brooklands flats near Longmead Avenue, says her flat is too cold for her nine-month old son Mason because she says the heating does not work properly.

Zoë, who is five months pregnant, says the flat also needs repairs to doors and walls.

She said: “I need to move closer to my family in a house in the New Town area.

“The flat is freezing cold and I am having to let my son sleep in with me. I am very worried about having to do that.

“I should not have to live like this.”

Zoe says she has asked Homes in Sedgemoor to carry out repairs but this has not happened.

However, Homes in Sedgemoor says it sent out a repairman to Zoë's flat in June, but she was not there.

A spokesman said: “A calling card was left advising Miss Vanstone arranged a new appointment but no further contact was made.

“The comfort and safety of our customers is of the utmost importance to us, and we would like to encourage Miss Vanstone to contact us as soon as possible so that we can work to address any problems she might have.”

Sedgemoor District Council operates a gold, silver and bronze banding system for determining the priority of council housing applicants; Zoe is in the silver band.

A council spokesman said there was a very high demand for council housing, and added: “If Zoë is that specific on requesting a house in the New Town area there are probably not any houses available at the moment.”


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Your Say Your Mercury

andelain, Bridgwater says...
10:08am Tue 29 Dec 09

These people should be grateful they have a roof over their heads. They should contact the housing association again who say they have tried to sort it out. There are many people who want a house, some of us have been waiting years. Join the queue.

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GGGG, Bridgwater says...
12:35pm Tue 29 Dec 09

I'd suggest this young lady has been ill-advised in going to the Mercury regarding her heating, rather than resolving the problem with the Housing Association. It invites accusations of free-loading & benefit grabbing. Without knowing Miss Vanstone and Mr Jordan's personal circumstances, people will simply see a young un-married mum with a child under a year old, with another on the way, and ask why she is bringing another child into this world when she (they) cannot support and provide a home for her first child.

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frags27, Bridgwater says...
2:20pm Tue 29 Dec 09

I agree with GGGG I don't know this couple but there first point of call to resolve this is to work with Homes in Sedgemoor not to go to the Mercury. Arrange a time to be home then ask SDC to visit on a day and time you both agree on. As for wanting to move closer to friends and family well you cannot have it both ways, you either get yourself moved to somewhere else that is in a better condition and is warm or you buy yourself a bike, walk, bus instead. You cannot have your cake and eat it ! There are lots of people who would be grateful to just have a roof over their head no matter where it was even if it was 30 or more miles away, maybe if you accepted this then you could at least keep your child warm and worry about the distance afterwards. Just be thankful the Council can help you as nobody would fix my house or put heating in unless I paid for it myself, I wouldn't get a free handout. I worked very hard and paid for my heating and my house, hopefully one or both of you has a job and pays something into society instead of taking from it.

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somertel, Bridgwater says...
1:18pm Wed 30 Dec 09

Another on the way? Incredible. Start taking responsibility for your own life Miss Vanstone, and stop expecting other people to pick up the tab for you.

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mebilbo, bridgwater says...
11:12pm Wed 30 Dec 09

now i am going to sound like my parents but when i grew up there was ice on the inside of the windows and that was only in 82, the word ungrateful comes to mind.
if you put those things what hang from your behind in front each other alternatively thats called walking or there is a bus service in the town.
no excuses - no sympathy

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Comments are closed on this article.

Zoe Vanstone, left, with her partner Bradley Jordan and nine month old son Mason, is pleading with her housing association to move her to a new house. Zoe Vanstone, left, with her partner Bradley Jordan and nine month old son Mason, is pleading with her housing association to move her to a new house.


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