Homeless couple pitch tent at council centre

7:25pm Wednesday 18th June 2008

A HOMELESS couple - who have been forced to camp in the woods at Smithills for the past four months - pitched their tent outside the UCAN Centre in protest at being turned down for a council flat.

Andrew Watts says he has been waiting two-and-a-half years on the housing list to get a permanent roof over his head, relying on friends to put him up on their sofas.

He claims he and his girlfriend, Wendy Mayers, have had to resort to living in woodland at Smithills.

Last week post sent by Bolton at Home to a friend's house told them they were being offered a one-bedroom flat in Canning Drive, Halliwell, but in the same batch of mail was a second letter saying the offer was being withdrawn as he had failed police checks.

Angry 35-year-old Mr Watts claims he is being penalised for keeping company with his brother-in-law, who is subject to an anti-social behaviour order.

In protest on Sunday night he and 41-year-old Miss Mayers, who have 10 children between them, pitched their tent outside the Mackenzie Street UCAN centre, in the Oldhams Estate, only moving the next morning after being warned they could be arrested.

"I am just being harassed," said Mr Watts, who is using crutches after breaking a leg two weeks ago, "I can't get a job because I can't get a wash or get ready for work living in a tent."

They claim they are being denied a chance to rebuild their lives and have a place to live where their children can visit them.

Miss Mayers said: "It is not fair that we are being punished."

A council spokesman said efforts had been made to find suitable accommodation for Mr Watts.

"We sympathise with Mr Watts' position and we have tried to help him at various times but the needs of an individual should be balanced around all aspects of an application for accommodation.

"He was offered the tenancy of a flat last October but he did not respond and today we offered him temporary single accommodation which was available, but this was turned down."

He added that arrangements have now been made for Mr Watts to see staff at the Urban Outreach Centre, a charitable organisation with links with numerous housing providers and services, to help and advise him.

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