Unfit private homes in line for revamp

About 60 unfit homes will be repaired under the scheme

People living in poor quality homes in Carmarthenshire are set to benefit from a multimillion pound project to rejuvenate deprived areas.

Under the scheme, facilities at the homes of 300 disabled people will be upgraded and more than 170 elderly or vulnerable people will be in line for home repairs.

This strategy will improve the quality of life of people

Councillor Nigel Evans

Around £7m will be spent in 2003 and the same amount will be invested over the next two years.

The grants will be available for homeowners who receive income support or council tax benefits.

The local authority aims to help people on benefits get the help they need in the home in terms of repairs or alterations.

Carmarthenshire council housing executive Nigel Evans said: "This strategy will improve the quality of life of people.... which will in turn lead to better health, well-being and better housing standards.

"It targets those people who are living in the most deprived communities or are affected by poor housing standards," he said.

Extension works

Under the first year of the scheme the Brynamman area of the county will be targetted, and works on roofs, walls, windows, drainpipes and garden walls will be carried out by the authority.

Homeowners in need could get help in areas such as modifying bathrooms, a new extension, hand rails or a stair lift.

The council's head of public protection Philip Davies said: "The system has been in existence for almost 40 years where special grants have been given to people with disabilities.

"But the Welsh Assembly has made recent changes, giving authorities a much wider discretion."

About 60 unfit homes will be repaired or demolished and rebuilt, and 100 will undergo small improvements.

The authority said other homeowners, who do not quality for grants, can be helped with releasing equity from their property or taking out a loan.

Energy efficiency schemes and DIY advice are also being promoted by the authority.