MP joins in fight against BW

Published: Thursday, 24 September 2009

THE Bromsgrove MP, Julie Kirkbride, has joined in the controversy against British Waterways selling  Tardebigge New Wharf cottages.

She has revealed that she would be appealing to British Waterways, the current owner of the homes, to behave in ‘a more humane fashion' to its tenants, some of whom have lived in the cottages for more than 20 years.

The residents of the cottages were recently told that their homes would be going up for sale, but it is understood they have not been given first refusal, and so could be left with as little as two months' notice if a new owner wanted to evict them.

Ms Kirkbride related:

"As a public body, I expect better from British Waterways than to treat people like this—the residents should at least have the first option to buy having lived there for so long."

However, a spokesman for BW now advises that the cottages would not be put up for sale as a single unit, and it would 'welcome any interest from residents and that would prevent them from doing so'.