ANOTHER angry mum has criticised Stort Valley Housing Association after waiting months for renovations to be made to her home.

Lynne Walford, of Northolt Avenue, Bishop's Stortford, says her autistic daughter's safety has been put at risk after she was "fobbed off" by the housing association.

She said: "I first got in touch with Stort Valley about five years ago when Nina climbed onto the banisters, so they have known about my situation for a long time."

The house was visited by social services last year.

Miss Walford said: "Stort Valley was sent a letter from the social worker in November last year complaining about the lack of facilities in the house and they said then they would make renovations, but I'm still waiting."

Stort Valley visited Miss Walford's home in May to draw up plans to turn the garage into a bedroom and bathroom.

Miss Walford said: "They told me they were waiting for the plans to be revised and said the work would start in July. Then they said August, then October and now January. It's not good enough. It's dangerous for Nina to sleep upstairs because she gets up during the night and puts herself in danger."

Nina, 14, now sleeps in her mum's bedroom or downstairs for her own safety.

She added: "Nina is too big for me to handle on my own without help. I'm sure there are lots of other families struggling to cope and Stort Valley could make life more bearable but the help is just not there."

The complaint comes after East Herts Council's bid to transfer the management of hundreds of council houses to Stort Valley and the Riversmead Housing Association.

A Stort Valley spokesman said: "The board and staff of Stort Valley Housing Association are totally committed to providing the best possible services to tenants in east Herts.

"If the proposed transfer goes ahead it will enable Stort Valley to carry out major improvements to housing stock whilst keeping rents in line with government targets.

"Should tenants vote for transfer at the forthcoming ballot the figure Stort Valley have earmarked for repairs and modernisation is £26.9m."

Last month the Citizen reported how physically dis-abled Emma Lee, 13, and her family were waiting for modifications to be carried out on their home in Plaw Hatch Close, Bishop's Stortford work they said they had been waiting for for two years.

Stort Valley Housing Association said a builder had been appointed to carry out the work, which would be done this month.

November 1, 2001 17:10