Residents blast army

Jan 26 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

ARMY officials have been criticised after property dubbed “the house of horrors” was left burnt out and boarded up for more than a year on a North estate.

Two semi-detached homes in Pallinsburn Court, Windsor Gardens, Newcastle, are owned by the military to offer family quarters for North-based troops.

The Ministry of Defence operates around a dozen homes on the estate offering three-bedroomed properties. Now private residents fear their homes will lose value after one property was torched by arsonists and looters ripped off lead and fixtures inside.

One homeowner, who didn’t want to be named, said: “Over the years this street has led to a number of residents moving from this estate which is sad. It’s not just the state of the place, it has also been the general behaviour from that area.

“We have all paid for and kept our homes in good order since the estate was built and add to this the fact that the majority of residents are taxpayers, then you can see where the frustration is coming from.

“The effect on house prices is inevitable and also the stigma which is now attached to this once sought-after estate, due to the Army housing.”

He claimed that neighbours were having trouble selling their property. One woman, whose partner is training to serve in Afghanistan, told The Journal that army families would be “lucky” to find a better place to live. She added: “I blame the Army for not fixing them up and renting them out. These are lovely houses and it’s a nice estate.

“But there hasn’t been anything going on lately around here. There are gangs of kids often getting into the gardens of the two houses.

“But it hasn’t been army kids doing it and the civvies tend to blame it on us, really. We don’t want any trouble.”

Northumbria Police’s neighbourhood inspector Jan Harrison said “We have only had two reports of minor youth disorder in this area over the past 12 months and three crimes in 10 years which appear to have been directed at the homes which don’t have long-term occupants.”

Last night a spokesperson for Defences Estates, which own the properties, said: “As a matter of priority Defence Estates will undertake a survey to determine what is required to bring the properties back in line and the results will shape future plans.

“In the meantime, the MoD has taken action to prevent potential vandals from entering the two properties by installing metal shutters to the windows and doors.”