RESIDENTS in East Lancashire have criticised the Prime Minister for suggesting council homes should be allocated on fixed-term deals rather than being ‘for life’.

David Cameron said fixed-term deals for tenants would allow people to move on if their circumstances changed.

Mr Cameron made his comments during a question and answer session in Birmingham on Tuesday.

He said those who get better-paid jobs should be encouraged into the private housing sector after five or 10-years in a council home.

The Prime Minister said this would free up houses for those with greater need on social housing waiting lists.

And he said it was important tenants had the opportunity to move to find work with a flexible system.

Earlier this year the Local Government Association said five million people would be on waiting lists for social housing by 2010 because of problems in the property market.

But people living in council houses in East Lancashire have described the Prime Minister as ‘out of touch’.

The Lancashire Telegraph visited the Within Grove estate in Huncoat, which has a large number of council homes.

Derek Whitham, 57, of Oakhurst Avenue, has lived in his council flat for nearly 26 years.

He said he had wanted to buy his own home, but was left disabled following a car accident and now he could not afford to leave council housing.

He said: “What happens to somebody at the end of that fixed time? Are they going to throw them out on the street?

“He’s a millionaire, so his understanding of need is totally different to ours.

“Repossessions are so high because people are being forced into private houses they can’t afford.

“To buy a private house you need to be employed or have private wealth, and the majority in public housing have neither.”

Nigel Rock, 42, of Woodside Road, has been renting his home for three years.

He said: “It’s just a way to boost the housing market.

Say if I had to leave in two years, I wouldn’t have looked after this house, done the garden, painted the walls and done it up inside.”

Independent councillor for Huncoat Dave Parkins said moving out of a council home might not be in the interests of a tenant and would not help forge strong communities.

He said: “You have got to think of people who cannot afford mortgages. That’s why they go for council properties.

“If people want to stay where they are, they like where they are, they have got a good community and environment, then they should be allowed to stay.

“They shouldn’t be forced to move to other areas because they have got a better job.

They have to think about their kids, the schools, the environment and the community they are part of, which could be a strong community.”

Homeless and homelessness charity Shelter said the fundamental cause of the housing crisis was ‘the desperate lack of affordable housing supply’.

Residents have their say

John Ashton, 78, of Brown Birks Road: “I really don’t think it’s right. If you’ve made your home somewhere then why should you have to move?”

Craig Foster, 28, of Brown Birks Road: “I live with my girlfriend. She pays £70 a week to rent the flat. I want to move out eventually but we shouldn’t be forced.”

Elizabeth Taylor, retired, of Bolton Avenue: “This seems to be concerned with the most vulnerable in society and he’s thinking they should make their own way.”

Graham Lee, 58, of Oakhurst Avenue: “When you get a flat you expect to stop in it for as long as you need. I’ve been here eight years. I can’t afford to buy a house.”

Les Holmes, 69, of Oakhurst Avenue: “People should be allowed to stay if they are a good tenant. It needs to be bad tenants who are kicked out.”