Applicants sought for pensioner flats

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 8

Applicants sought for pensioner flats

The Ellesmere County Council is having difficulty finding suitable applicants for proposed new pensioner rental flats in Lincoln and Leeston.

The council agreed at yesterday’s meeting to advertise again. The deputy chairman, Mr P. J. Abbott, said the council should make one “last-ditch effort to put it in black and white to the people.” Finance for four flats has been approved in principle by the Housing Corporation. Before the formal approval is given a Medical Officer of Health has to prove a need for the flats.

So far the council has only one applicant for such accommodation. The asset criteria for those seeking the accommodation has been increased to $12,000 for a single person and $15,000 for a couple. Cr W. Heslop said that the council faced the difficulty of not having comparable pensioner flats in the district to show potential applicants. "People are not prepared to come forward until they can see what we are offering,” he said. Construction of the flats is not expected to begin until the next financial

year, and then only if there is sufficient interest in them from pensioners. Plant control

The council would like noxious plant control in the hands of district noxious plant authorities coordinated regionally. It has decided to oppose the Government’s plans to disband the Noxious Plants Council and have the Ministry of Agriculture take over its functions. The council was concerned that noxious plant control could be subjected to the "whims” of Ministry officers.