The plight of a near-blind pensioner has been called “abhorrent and disgraceful” as she faces being homed anywhere in the county by the housing association while properties lie empty within a stone’s throw of her present home.

80-year-old Margaret Cook is having to leave her privately rented house by 17th August as the owner wishes to sell, but she has been told by Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) that “although we will do everything we can to help you, the steps we are able to take will depend on the resources this council has available”.

All social rented housing stock is owned by Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) but it is MCC that have a duty to prevent her from being made homeless.

Councillor Alice Legg who has been helping her, told the Beacon that MCC have informed her that she could be homed anywhere in the county.

“Margaret has lived in Monmouth since 1959, living 16 years at her present home and she wants to stay in Monmouth to be close to her family and friends, but she has been told she could be sent anywhere in Monmouthshire,” she said.

Margaret, who lost her husband Keith over 4 years ago, said that she has lost over a stone in weight and feels like she is living in a vacuum.

“My doctor said I need a bungalow as I cannot manage the stairs here now,” she explained.

“My daughter lives in Monmouth; she needs me because of her poor health and I need her but the council said that, because I have two dogs, they cannot promise me I can keep the dogs, I will have to go where they put me.

“Those dogs are my life and my last connection with Keith once I leave this house. I’ve lost a stone in weight and just can’t go on any longer,” she added before breaking down in tears.

She bid on one property in Somerset Road but it was taken off bidding and has now been filled. This week she has heard there are two more empty ones just around the corner by the dry bridge and one or two on Watery Lane and one in Rockfield Avenue.

“Other people are getting bungalows, why can’t I?”, she cried.

MP David Davies, who took up her situation with Monmouthshire Homesearch was told that “MHA seek to maintain the highest possible occupancy levels of their properties but sometimes they need to keep a certain percentage of properties empty or void at all times”.

Mat Feakins, the county councillor for the area has said Margaret is his number one priority.

“It’s abhorrent and disgraceful that MHA have got empty properties within minutes of Mrs Cook’s present home that they won’t make available.  I can’t imagine a more pressing and urgent situation, all of Mrs Cook’s support network is in Monmouth, her home for 60 years.   

“The thought of Mrs Cook being relocated somewhere other than Monmouth is shocking and we can’t allow this to happen.”

He continued to criticise the association for “building new plush developments in Abergavenny and Chepstow with over 100 builders on site, yet they are selling properties in Monmouth, it doesn’t add-up!”.

He wondered why they could not send a small team of their builders to Monmouth for a week and make good one of the properties for Mrs Cook “or hand back the properties to Monmouthshire County Council so we can send a team in to get the work done”.  

He reserved his anger for MHA’s Chief Executive’s John Keegan who he felt should be held accountable for such an appalling personal situation.

David Davies MP wrote to Monmouthshire Homesearch - a partner between MCC and the five housing associations that operate in the county.

All affordable social rented accommodation is advertised and allocated via this partnership and they explained that MHA may vary the number of empty properties “as required to meet operational maintenance and emergency-provision needs”. They confimred Mrs Cook has been placed on their assisted bidding service and would be contacted as soon as a “suitable property becomes available that suits her needs”.

MCC were approached for a comment but had not responded by the time the Beacon went to print.