Woman wins two-year battle for new home
A Midhurst woman has won a two-and-a-half year fight for a specially-converted house where she can care for her disabled husband.
Denise Mansell, her husband Simon, 47, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, son Thomas, 14, who has autism and epilepsy and their other son Stuart, 12, have at last moved into the house in Easebourne's Hanover Court owned by Hanover Housing which had remained empty for 28 months.
"When we were finally offered it, I felt angry because we had been asking for it for so long and it had just been sitting here empty and nobody did anything to help us," said Mrs Mansell."
What made her even more angry was the discovery that the water had been left on at the house in Hanvoer Court and the tank had burst causing thousands of pounds of damage.
"It had to have a new kitchen and bathroom, new carpets and be completely redecorated throughout.
"If they had let us move in when we asked none of the damage would have happened.
"We had already had one upheaval because we were moved to another house in Easebourne which Chichester District Council said could be converted – and then we had to go through it all again."
The family were moved last October and it was only after Chichester District Council visited to plan the conversion the Mansells were offered the house they had been asking for for so long.
"We were told it would cost 30,000 to convert," said Mrs Mansell, "and all of a sudden we got a telephone call to offer us the one we had always wanted."
They were refused the house in 2008 because, said Hanover Housing, it was not available for rent and was intended anyway for people aged between 55 and 60.
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Weather for Midhurst
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
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