By Trevor Porter

RESIDENTS of a quiet Trowbridge cul de sac are furious a council house has been left empty for almost a year.

Residents in Harmony Place, off Dursley Road, are angry that the house, owned by West Wiltshire District Council, has been empty since January.

They are worried pipes in the terraced house could freeze this winter, causing problems in their adjoining homes.

They have also complained about the overgrown hedge at the rear of the house, which, they say, makes it difficult for them to get past with their dustbins.

Resident Bernard Beer said: "It's criminal, with so many people on the waiting list for a council house, that this cosy little house has been left empty since the death of its tenant at the beginning of the year.

"We have asked on several occasions if they would re-let the house so that a tenant would be in place to maintain it.

"Because no one lives in the house, the hedge is unattended, making it difficult to pass by with our bins.

"If I have difficulty then it must be much more of a challenge for some of the residents who are less capable than I am."

District councillor Graham Payne said he wanted to know why the house had not been re-let at a time when there are 2,300 people on the waiting list, and all the bed and breakfasts available are over-subscribed.

He said: "There are so many people desperate for a house I cannot understand why this house still remains empty.

"I cannot truly appreciate the lackadaisical attitude displayed by the housing association and the district council are they serious about running a comprehensive housing service?"

Roger Hill, the council's acting principal housing services manager, said: "We could not re-let the house because it needs a lot of work and is not a condition to be re-let.

"The hedge will be tidied up, and we are meeting West Wiltshire Housing Society next week to discuss the issue of void properties.

"We are aware of this property but it needs a lot of money spent on it before it can be re-let."