A NEW social housing application scheme has caused an outcry among pensioners living in rural villages.
Under government guidelines a social housing points system and waiting list would be scrapped giving wider scope for applicants to apply for housing in other districts.
A new banding system will give extra priority to more vulnerable tenants who will get preference over local applicants living in their own districts.
However, pensioners living in rural villages fear that the scheme could leave them out in the cold.
A Tilston pensioner stuck on a three year waiting list explained that the new proposals could scupper her chances of moving to a nearby sheltered property.
She said: 'We are now told that instead of staying on a waiting list we have to see what housing is advertised every fortnight and reapply then. What about those who have been on the waiting list for years?
'I have friends in their 80s who are desperate for sheltered housing and have been on the list for years.'
She added: 'The scheme requires you to find out from the local newspaper or the internet. What about those who don't have access?
'I can see what is going to happen -pensioners will just give up and not apply.'
Tilston Councillor Neil Ritchie wrote to The Chronicle claiming the scheme fails to address local housing needs.
He said: 'The new scheme would encourage applicants from all over the Chester district to apply for any vacancy that comes up in their village.
'Properties would be advertised in the media, on the internet and in a property shop in Chester and to all registered applicants in the top category of housing need.
'People in this top band of a new five band system of banding, wherever they live at present, would have first refusal.
'If you need social housing in your village, but are unable to qualify in the top band, you will have no chance.'
Councillor Mia Jones accused Cllr Ritchie of 'scaremongering'.
She said: 'The government has said that we must look at choice-based letting and we have consulted widely to make sure the list is a fairer, more transparent system that takes into account both local need and the priority of housing those most vulnerable and in need.'
barry.ellams@cheshirenews.co.uk
A council spokesman said: 'The aim of the draft new scheme is to make it fairer, increase choice, be more transparent, easier to understand, give more realistic information about housing prospects and make it easier to let property to those in the greatest need.
'The draft policy is seeking to strengthen, not reduce local connection. However, because it is proposed to abolish the points system, it would not be possible to allocate points for local connection.'
He added: 'Some other way must be found eg: introducing a local letting criteria.'
