People living in two council-run sheltered housing schemes are stepping up their campaign against cuts to their full-time warden service with a day of action. Residents of Charles Macpherson Gardens in Eldene and Herbert Harvey Court in Coleview fear lives could be put at risk as the borough council brings in a warden-sharing scheme between its complexes. They will be knocking on doors and running stalls in the town centre on May 29 to garner support for their fight. Francis Smith said: “We need more people on board, the campaign is growing but I would like it to grow more as it’s been slow so far.”
But parish councillor for Nythe, Eldene and Liden and Conservative election candidate Curtis Flux said: “I believe it is paramount that the views of residents at Charles Macpherson are taken on board and my belief is we must fight to ensure a full-time warden is continued. “My understanding is many local figures have the same belief. One thing we must remember is the majority, if not all of the residents here are vulnerable in some way. This could have a physical effect as well as an emotional effect on many of them.” Each of Swindon’s 32 council-run sheltered housing schemes has had a dedicated on-site warden working between 8am-4pm. In future, two wardens will be split between several sites.
ANGER over cutbacks on sheltered housing wardens by the council has seen a fresh campaign launched. Residents at Charles Macpherson Gardens have joined forces with the ACORN union in a bid to retain a full-time warden at the Eldene facility. Francis Smith, who lives there, told the Adver in February how he owes his life to a housing warden after she checked in on him and found him dehydrated and hallucinating – even though the 68-year-old told her he was fine when she called. But moves by Swindon Borough Council to adopt what it says is a model used up and down the country will leave residents without a live-in warden.