New affordable homes wrecked

The first new council homes in the borough for 25 years have been damaged by

vandals.

The development of six two bed room bungalows on Etherstone Street in Leigh,

due for completion this month, were seriously damaged yesterday (15th).

The council’s cabinet champion for housing, Cllr Kevin Anderson, says: “At a

time when money is tight and the pressure is really on councils not to neglect

vulnerable groups, acts of vandalism like this are all the more shocking.  These

properties will offer affordable rented homes and are really needed.  I hope

those responsible realise the implications of what they have done.”

The construction firm say repairs will delay the handovers but the Council

and Wigan and Leigh Housing are working with them to ensure the homes are ready

for new tenants to move in as soon as possible.

The bungalows are part of a project to build new affordable homes in Astley,

Wigan and Leigh which aims to deliver more than 150 new affordable homes for

rent in a bid to address the shortage of this type of accommodation in the

borough.