New kitchens unveiled in council houses in Basildon

10:00am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in Basildon

Modern homes – site manager Stephen Hall, resident Mary Thompson, Marilyn Lundrigan from Basildon Council, residents Christine and William Finch, with Warren Hanson and Janice Price from Mitie Modern homes – site manager Stephen Hall, resident Mary Thompson, Marilyn Lundrigan from Basildon Council, residents Christine and William Finch, with Warren Hanson and Janice Price from Mitie

THE first of more than 300 new kitchens and bathrooms being installed in council houses across the borough have been unveiled.

As part of the Decent Homes programme – a Government-led initiative which requires a minimum standard in council houses – building firm Mitie was contracted by Basildon Council to modernise kitchens and bathrooms.

So far, 308 properties have been refurbished and officials from Mitie and the council officially unveiled some of the completed work at homes in Shrubbery Close, Basildon, on Friday.

Phil Turner, Basildon Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, said: “I’m delighted our residents are benefiting from these works, having given the new kitchens and bathrooms their vote of approval.

“This is part of a wider £112million investment by Basildon Council to improve and modernise its 11,000-plus housing stock.”

Steve Hall, Mitie’s site manager, said: “I’m really glad the residents are so happy with the result, and everyone at Mitie is looking forward to transforming more homes in Basildon.”

Comments(11)

Rayleigh_boy says...
10:19am Tue 21 Aug 12

A lot of hard working people couldn't afford a new kitchen and yet all these council houses get a nice new one courtesy of the tax payers. And being in Basildon I'm sure that most of these kitchens are going to single mums or to benefit fraudsters. Why is this even news???

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John the resonator says...
10:35am Tue 21 Aug 12

Kind of sets the standard when the first comment is from an ill-informed miseryguts.

Good luck with the rolling improvements to the housing stock.

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PJR-121 says...
11:47am Tue 21 Aug 12

Rayleigh_boy wrote:
A lot of hard working people couldn't afford a new kitchen and yet all these council houses get a nice new one courtesy of the tax payers. And being in Basildon I'm sure that most of these kitchens are going to single mums or to benefit fraudsters. Why is this even news???
They aren't exactly top range, state of the art kitchens with a central work space, waterfall-esque taps and mood lighting - they'll just be new sinks, cupboards and worktops.

I lived with an ex in her council flat a good few years ago, and they renovated her bathroom, which meant removing the old steel tub, and the pullchain toilet, and replacing it with a standard toilet and bathtub. Trust me, anything but luxury, yet so much better.

Another Echo moment... The first of 300 new kitchens and bathrooms have been unveiled, but the council have already improved 308 houses...

So either the others will be refurbished, or these aren't the first, but rather some of...

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Seasider90 says...
12:24pm Tue 21 Aug 12

No problem with tenants getting their places refurbished but better it be the one's who are genuine claimants and those not with a criminal record. How about those born and bred in this country first on the list for refurbishments. I object to anyone turning up on our shores and being given a nice council house purely because they have loads of kids. I work my butt off to keep a roof over my head so don't see why others cant actually EARN what they are given.

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SpaffSpiff84 says...
12:58pm Tue 21 Aug 12

Somehow i dont think these are marble-floors and granite worktops, have you seen the quality of mitie's work? I could throw the parts into the room and make it look better, give it 6 months and they will be ignoring calls to repair them

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alimac69 says...
1:06pm Tue 21 Aug 12

Seasider 90 - I don't see why those born and bred here, who haven't done a days work in their lives should get anything either. Where you come from is irrelevant, if you work you deserve, if you don't, get to the bottom of the pile.

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twiglight says...
1:40pm Tue 21 Aug 12

What about the people who live in council homes in Wickford, no we don't count. Wickford are always left out we have roads and pavements that need doing, But no not for wickford, and we pay more council tax.

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Brunning999 says...
6:55am Wed 22 Aug 12

John the resonator wrote:
Kind of sets the standard when the first comment is from an ill-informed miseryguts.

Good luck with the rolling improvements to the housing stock.
The truth often does hurt.

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I-say-you-say says...
9:37am Wed 22 Aug 12

twiglight wrote:
What about the people who live in council homes in Wickford, no we don't count. Wickford are always left out we have roads and pavements that need doing, But no not for wickford, and we pay more council tax.
What's that got to do with kitchens and bathrooms?

It's completely different departments, different issues and not even anything to do with Basildon Council!

Roads and pavements are - I think you'll find - quite probably Essex County Council and not Basildon Council!

Basildon Council may not be 100% agreeable (but then who nowadays is?!) but get your facts straight before you start throwing accusations and jumping on the bandwagon!

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Basildon Council Communications says...
12:20pm Wed 22 Aug 12

twiglight wrote:
What about the people who live in council homes in Wickford, no we don't count. Wickford are always left out we have roads and pavements that need doing, But no not for wickford, and we pay more council tax.
The Council will undertake this kitchen and bathroom work in the Wickford area as part of the Decent Homes programme.

This is planned in for Year 5, we are currently in Year 3 of the programme.

Thanks

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E-Types.. says...
1:30pm Wed 22 Aug 12

Basildon Council Communications wrote:
twiglight wrote:
What about the people who live in council homes in Wickford, no we don't count. Wickford are always left out we have roads and pavements that need doing, But no not for wickford, and we pay more council tax.
The Council will undertake this kitchen and bathroom work in the Wickford area as part of the Decent Homes programme.

This is planned in for Year 5, we are currently in Year 3 of the programme.

Thanks
Has the council found a new place to dump asbestos (Dale farm no longer being viable) in case they find any while refurbishing?

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