A pensioner in Colchester is being charged for upkeep and furnishings at a building he doesn't live in.

Retired farm worker Peter Rogers lives in council-owned accommodation in Harvey Crescent, Stanway.

But a few weeks ago thanks to the new-look rent statements which itemise charges he discovered that for the past ten years he has been paying nearly £40 a year towards the upkeep of the sheltered housing block called Winstree Court, also in Stanway.

Mr Rogers is furious about having to pay for the upkeep of a building he has never been to and never plans to visit or use.

Colchester Council is looking into the matter and it hopes to have it resolved as soon as possible.

The reason he is being charged for the upkeep and furnishings at Winstree Court is that his property and the sheltered housing block are connected by Help Line. Mr Rogers could, if he wanted to, use the facilities there.

He has, without realising it, being paying for the upkeep of Winstree Court since he moved into Harvey Crescent ten years ago.

Mr Rogers, 76, said: "I shall not be paying it. Sixty-nine pence a week might not sound like a lot of money but it does add up and when you are on a pension these days you cannot afford to spend money on things you don't need or use."

Paul Clarke, Colchester Council's housing support manager, said: "They are linked properties and the services there are available to this gentleman. Under new rent systems we set out the basic rent and all the service charges. It means we are being open and transparant."

Published Tuesday, June 10, 2003

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