‘Discriminated’ residents facing eviction

The husband of an MS-suffering amputee, who is now facing eviction, says he will flood Hereford with 200 caravans if the county council does not find his wife suitable housing.

Maurice Smith and his wife Julie are facing a court hearing on November 27 for eviction from their home at Tinkers Corner, Bosbury.

Maurice said they are suffering discrimination after the option of a wheelchair-adapted bungalow on a Bartestree estate was taken away from them because the terms did not allow caravans to be kept at the property.

“We feel discriminated against for being from the traveller community,” he said.

“They say we can’t have the house because of having a caravan but I would not need one once it is built. So there would be no caravan or van on the site.”

Maurice said his wife, who suffers multiple sclerosis and recently lost her leg due to pressure sores, has been living in a 12ft by 8ft converted utility room for more than two and a half years.

“All I want is a solution so that my wife can live a normal life,” he said.

“I don’t care if it’s a new home or a 15-year-old bungalow so long as it is suitable for my wife’s needs.

“Where we currently are my wife can’t have a proper wash.”

He said if they are evicted, he will be forced to live on the side of the road.

“I will park my caravan outside the council’s offices. I’m setting up a petition and if they don’t find my wife a solution,
I will bring 200 caravans to Hereford.

“All I want is for my wife to be able to live her life.”

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said they do not take eviction processes lightly.

“We only pursue these on our traveller sites in extreme cases, litigation always being a last resort,” he said.

“This is one such case where we have reluctantly had to take action following several failed attempts to alter the
behaviour of one particular member of the Smith family, which has unfortunately jeopardised the entire council run Bosbury site.

“We have offered a number of housing solutions to the family, which would support the health requirements of Mrs Smith, but these have unfortunately been rejected to date despite our best efforts.

“The decision not to offer the property in Bartestree was a decision made by Herefordshire Housing Ltd and not Herefordshire Council, which we understand was declined because of a deed of covenant that prohibited caravans on this land and not because they are a traveller family.”

A Connexus (formerly Herefordshire Housing) spokesperson said they understood the frustrations that Maurice and his family are currently experiencing.

“However due to covenants on the site, which were part of the planning consent, an offer of accommodation was unable to be made,” he said.