A WELLINGTON couple have been forced to move out of their family home owned by a Bristol-based housing association in Penny Close because of severe mould in various rooms.

Jessica Fleet and her partner Hayden Tubb have gone to live with relatives, along with their two children.

Jessica’s case has been taken up by local councillor Andrew Govier who said: “‘It is a real shame that this family and others on the estate are having to put up with these problems. I have written to the housing association, Places for People, suggesting that they need to look at these issues throughout the whole estate. I would like to see them draw up a maintenance plan for the houses that have problems and get the necessary work started.”

Jessica has told the housing association: “It is now affecting my children, my son’s skin (doctors have agreed the mould is the problem!); my five-month old daughter constantly has a wheezy chest and they both always have colds.

“We have had to rip up carpets and throw away buggies, cots, curtains and countless other items! It’s a complete nightmare!

“I wouldn’t keep on if it wasn’t affecting my children! I don’t know if you have any children yourself, but I doubt if you did, you would want to live somewhere like this!

“This is me begging now, please, please help us. We are fighting a losing battle.”

n Penny Close was constructed just over 20 years ago and was the first sizeable social housing development in the town after the Eighties restrictions on building council housing. The estate has been owned by a number of housing associations over the years but has always been remotely managed.

The nearest office has always been in Bristol and it has been said this has led to a lack of responsiveness. There have been a number of complaints by residents over the years including complaints about paying a service charge for grass cutting etc but a poor service.