Largs mum no longer facing 'forced house move' thanks to News

Linda Campbell was moved out of her North Ayrshire Council sheltered housing flat in Cumbrae Gardens in March for repairs to dampness and mould, seven months after the problem was first reported to housing bosses.

She was moved to a temporary home in Moorburn Park, where the 64-year-old says she’s been much happier.

But after being told by NAC that remaining at Moorburn Park in the long term was not an option, Linda arranged a ‘mutual exchange’ with someone who lives in a flat at the School Wynd development on the seafront, run by Cunninghame Housing Association (CHA), but who wants to move to Cumbrae Gardens.

Linda contacted the News after being told by NAC that she’d have to move back to Cumbrae Gardens before the exchange and the move to School Wynd could take place.

But after the News raised her worries with both the council and CHA, the two landlords have agreed that that Linda can stay in Moorburn Park until she’s able to move straight to School Wynd.

The mum-of-three had been living at the Cumbrae Gardens complex for a couple of years until the shower drain failed, and unknown to her, was leaking under the floor.

Linda first noticed in late August last year that some mould was creeping up the internal living room wall.

The problem was reported to NAC, whose staff initially thought the source was a leak from a radiator.

But the true source, and scale, of the problem was only discovered after two further visits.

By then the mould, and the damage it caused, was so widespread, and the risk to Linda’s health was deemed so significant, that she had to be moved out in April, some seven months after the mould was first reported.

A family friend who alerted the News to the problem said: “It appears that council housing officers, having not paid much attention until the damage was extensive and the housing situation had become dangerous to Linda’s health, seemed to have been spurred by panic to move her out.

Linda is hoping to move to School Wynd without another upheaval to Cumbrae Gardens (Image: Google Maps)

“Now she has been moved to a decant flat nearer town which has actually shown Linda how much easier it is to live more local to shops, the doctors and the front."

The damage at the Cumbrae Gardens flat has now been repaired.

The former care worker at the now-closed Moorburn Manor nursing home said: "It is great - the stress and the strain of another move especially when I am so poorly has drained me throughout all this.

"I'd like to thank the Largs and Millport Weekly News for all their help, and I have to give the council and CHA their due when they are doing something right and would like to thank them for all their help in letting me stay a extra couple of weeks.

"I am very thankful to everyone involved in making this happen."

Linda pictured with council letter regarding move, with her shih tzu dog Daisy (Image: Newsquest)

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Our staff continue to liaise with CHA to progress Mrs Campbell’s mutual exchange application.

"We are confident of a speedy resolution, and are happy for Ms Campbell to remain within Moorburn Park during this time.

“In relation to the dampness concerns Ms Campbell has, we understand her frustration at the length of time to address the problem, but as soon as the extent of this became apparent, action was quickly taken to temporarily re-house Ms Campbell, to allow the necessary repair work to go ahead.

“We will continue to liaise with Ms Campbell in relation to the mutual exchange application.”

A CHA spokesperson said: "Whilst the association cannot provide specific information on any individual case, we are fully supportive in assisting tenants through the mutual exchange process with a view to achieving a positive outcome.