Strood man promised a dropped kerb by MHS Homes four years ago still waiting

KentOnline / KMTV

Michael Partridge, 74, was promised a dropped kerb outside his property in Penguin Close, Strood, as part of a package of work by MHS Homes in August 2021.  Gabriel Morris reports...

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00:00You might not think twice about a dropped kerb, but for Michael Partridge and Strood, it's become a daily battle.

00:07His emphysema means he relies on an oxygen tank, and he struggles to walk more than a few steps.

00:14He's lived in this home for more than 40 years now, and in 2021, MHS Holmes, who owns the property,

00:21agreed to install a wet room and a driveway, all completed, but the dropped kerb never came.

00:30Yeah, they come up to sign up the jobs off, and twice they come up for that, and they was from Medway Housing,

00:37they was from the council, they was from the contractors, you know, and each time they'd turn and say,

00:43oh, we see your dropped kerb ain't done yet, we'll have to get on to them about that.

00:48That's it, nothing.

00:49How do you feel about all of this?

00:52I always do my heading, and it's coming up four years this year,

00:56so I've been banging my head against the wall, you know, I've been contacting people,

01:04my daughter has four, I mean, even my next-door neighbour has, but I just don't seem to get anywhere.

01:10Because MHS own the property, Michael can't arrange for work himself.

01:14And did you know it's technically illegal to drive over a kerb which isn't dropped?

01:21That's exactly what Michael's been having to do for the past four years.

01:25They've promised him it, they've put the hard standing in, but where's the dropped kerb?

01:30All they can do in that situation is they can make a complaint to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission,

01:39so they can ask them to investigate it.

01:41They can approach the ombudsman as well, the housing ombudsman,

01:44but the sanctions are very weak.

01:46It's actually easier and often cheaper for housing associations

01:50just to ignore any sanctions that are imposed or pay a fine.

01:54In a statement, the Housing Association told us,

01:58we understand Mr Partridge's frustration at the length of time for the kerb to be dropped.

02:04Unfortunately, it cannot happen until they have the relevant permission from Medway Council.

02:09They say they're working closely with the local authority

02:11to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

02:15I asked Medway Council for their response to that,

02:19and they said work to install the dropped kerb is due to take place next week,

02:23and they're investigating a delay in processing payment for the work.

02:28Do you think it will ever be sorted?

02:30No, to be honest, I don't.

02:33I don't think they bother anymore.

02:35They really don't.

02:37I think we'd be better off having all the houses belonging back to the council

02:41instead of the housing association.

02:43They looked after them, the council.

02:46Michael's heard promises before,

02:48and says he won't believe it until he sees it.

02:52Gabriel Morris, in Strude.

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