Jo Swinson MP supports campaign to save sheltered housing wardens

3.14.00pm GMT Fri 6th Feb 2009

Jo will join tenants on Saturday morning to campaign against Council plans to remove night wardens from local sheltered housing.

East Dunbartonshire Council have announced that residents in local sheltered accommodation will no longer be provided with wardens outside of office hours. If the move goes ahead, residents will have to ring a centralised helpline if they require assistance at night or at the weekend. Concern has been raised because some more vulnerable people don't like using the telephone and prefer to speak to wardens face to face. Others worry that the same level of services will not be maintained without wardens on site.

Tenants from the sheltered housing in Jedworth Court, Bearsden, will be at Kirkintilloch Shopping Precinct from 10.30am on Saturday 7th February petitioning to save sheltered housing wardens from cutbacks. Local feeling on the issue is very strong, and the group of tenants has already collected over 1000 signatures for the petition. Jo has also signed a motion in Parliament against the cuts in funding.

Commenting, Jo said:

"I sincerely hope that common sense will prevail on this matter. It is clear that if wardens are not present outside office hours, residents will no longer receive the kind of personal service they are used to getting. Having the security of knowing there is a warden on site at all times is one of the main reasons why people choose to live in sheltered housing. The helpline will provide technical assistance, but without the personal quality that residents value so highly."

If you would like to support the petition, please contact Alex Davidson at a.davidson147@sky.com

The text of the Early Day Motion signed by Jo Swinson appears below:

EDM 432

Sheltered Housing Wardens

That this House notes with concern reductions in funding for supporting people services; further notes that this is leading to the threat of a removal of warden-supported housing complexes; is concerned that this will have a detrimental effect upon the quality of life of many vulnerable people who rely on warden-supported housing; and calls on the Government to take action to ensure that this vital service remains.