Pilgrims Housing – Action not Abuse is what is needed
Posted by Richard | Filed under Housing
I was shocked at the highly personal tone taken by Bedford’s MP in his attacks on the Head of BPHA recently. While I share the concerns at the sudden and sharp increases in utlity charges and service fees for some BPHA customers, I don’t think abusing the head of the organisation will be effective in getting BPHA to amend its policies and do something to help those hardest hit.
I went to see John Cross, the Head of BPHA , to press the case for re-consideration and to see if there was any latitude to reduce or delay the fees increases. He listened and I felt that I had the opportunity to make the case on behalf of residents more effectively than grandstanding for the press. Whether my effort will result in a change, we will have to wait and see; but I am hopeful and will continue to make the case as effectively as I can.
April 6th, 2010 at 8:42am
Hi Richard, I was at the BPHA meeting that Patrick Hall MP called at the Civic Theatre in Bedford, and I think a lot of the anger came from the fact that BPHA did not send any staff there to listen to the views of their Tenants & Residents – they are only next-door, so they could have easily have sent a staff member to listen, it would have gone a long way I believe. I agree with the press and TV being there, how else are these residents able to get their message across?, as they don’t have the luxury of being able to meet John face to face as you do?, and why should TV etc have been banned as requested by John Cross ?
kind regards, Ian.