Calls to save ‘vital’ facility in Derbyshire town amid closure fears

Rykneld Homes was forced to close its area housing office in Clay Cross when the coronavirus lockdown started in March.

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The organisation is now carrying out a consultation on the future of the office – with many residents and Clay Cross Parish Council fearing it could end up shutting for good.

Councillor Gerry Morley, chair of the parish council, told the Derbyshire Times: “Our message to Rykneld Homes is very clear – this facility should not close down.

“Please keep it open.

“Rykneld Homes say tenants have successfully switched to other payment methods such as the town’s post office and direct debits.

“Yes, people have gone to pay their rent at the post office because they don’t want to fall in to arrears – but it’s very small there and they are on top of one another so there is no privacy.

“We have lots of older people in the community and they don’t all have access to the internet, and don’t want to pay or are unable to pay online through a bank.

“They want to get back to the area housing office which provides a focal point for them to pay their rent and to talk to staff about any problems they might have with their housing.

“Many tenants have built up a good relationship with staff and prefer face-to-face contact.”

Coun Morley added that ‘lots of investment’ was currently happening in Clay Cross and ‘things should be staying open, not closing’.

The office is based in Clay Cross Social Centre, which opened in 1981.

Coun Derrick Skinner, who also sits on the parish council, said: “We are strongly opposed to any plans to close the area housing office, which we believe to be a cost-cutting exercise.

“The office was incorporated into the town’s social centre for the purpose of allowing people from Clay Cross and surrounding areas to have somewhere to pay their rent and go to for housing enquires and advice.”

Mick Holmes, 76, of Clay Cross, said he had used the area housing office for ‘many years’.

He said: “I just hope it stays open for me and so many other people as we consider it to be a vital facility.

“We miss using it.

“It’s not just a place to pay your rent and get housing advice – it’s a place to see and speak to other people, people you’ve known for years.”

A spokesperson for Rykneld Homes told the Derbyshire Times: “Rykneld Homes is currently undertaking consultation with customers and residents about Clay Cross area housing office and no decision on the future of the office has been made.

"Following completion of the consultation period and assessment of the feedback provided, the options for the housing office will be fully considered.”

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