Fears on axe for Sandwell housing scheme

Sandwell Council is braced to lose millions of pounds' funding if plans to scrap a housing improvement scheme go-ahead.

The authority was expecting to receive £28 million from the Government to improve homes in the borough, as part of the Decent Homes Programme.

But now the Government wants to scrap the scheme, which means plans for refurbishment projects in Sandwell are in limbo.

Wednesbury councillor Simon Hackett said: "For me this is an absolute betrayal. We were promised this money and, in good faith, we have been planning how it will be spent for some time.

"So to be told now we're not going to get it - it's a betrayal. I also view it as a personal attack on council tenants.

"We want to assure residents who were expecting refurbishments that whatever happens we will be completing the programme as soon as possible."

Sandwell Council has already received £291m out of the £319m it was expecting as part of the Decent Homes programme. This has allowed it to bring up its stock of homes classed as 'decent' up to 91 per cent.

Projects have included the refurbishment of Lissimore House in Kenrick Park, West Bromwich.

But projects such as a revamp of the Bilston Road estate and Russell House in Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, are now in jeopardy.