A YOUNG Chineham family’s wait for a kitchen is set to continue after they were promised a makeover by their housing association four years ago. 

John Wooldridge, his partner and two children moved into the Simons Close property in 2012 via a mutual exchange agreement and initially found the kitchen to be in a liveable condition.

However, within days of moving in, the kitchen began falling apart – with one of the room’s cupboards falling off the wall and striking John’s then 18-month-old in the face.

John contacted their new housing association Affinity Sutton (AS) to complain, but was told originally that they would have to wait at least a year for a new kitchen to be fitted.

But after four years they are still waiting.

“It’s been a hell of a stress on all of us,” John explained.

“Like any family we have the occasional moment of bickering, but this whole situation has really built tension.

“Because we have no room for storage, we have to buy our food every single day, which is extremely expensive.”

John and his family finally thought they had had a breakthrough when in October last year they received an email confirming their “kitchen will be renewed this financial year, before April 1.”

However they received a call in May to state their letter was sent out in error.

“We couldn’t believe it,” John added. 

“Our kitchen is still falling apart and all we keep doing is just trying to glue it all back which never lasts.

“We have contacted our local MP [Maria Miller], and Citizens Advice Bureau said to keep complaining to the company.

“It’s been a long four-year wait for any progress.”
AS is one of the largest housing associations in England with over 58,000 homes.

A spokesperson for AS said: “We are sorry for the confusion and the inconvenience this will have caused the residents at this property. 

“Our surveyor is assessing the required repair works for the kitchen and we will liaise with the residents to get these completed as soon as possible.”