11:58am Friday 23rd March 2007
By Alex Ali
THE MAJORITY of people are dissatisfied with the level of services they receive from Harrow Council.
And the latest figures from the council's Strategic Performance Report reveals a startling increase in homelessness - there is not enough housing in the borough to help people in crisis and families in need face a lengthy stay in bed and breakfast accommodation.
But Cllr Camilla Bath said: "We have to build more to get the people who are in temporary accommodation and bed and breakfast out. A year ago no-one was in temporary accommodation, but more and more people are accessing housing services."
Cllr Bath explained that the increase was not from one particular group of people and that it was "right across the board".
Cllr Bath hopes that developments at Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, The Grove, Stanmore, and Strongbridge Close, Rayners Lane, would alleviate some of the pressure on the council's temporary housing stock.
But she admitted that the borough's greatest problem was a lack of three, four and six-bedroom houses which families with children could move into and that meant that "some of them are in temporary accommodation for several years."
The report also shows residents are not happy with the cleanliness of the streets, collection and disposal of household waste, recycling, sport and leisure facilities, museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls.
Cllr Christine Bednell, portfolio holder for cultural services, said: "I think that we are soon going to be a leading light in London for the arts."
A new performing arts centre will be build at the Gayton Library site and Cllr Bednell explained that people's dissatisfaction stemmed largely from the recent problems with Harrow Museum and Harrow Arts Centre.
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