South Somerset Homes complete makeover at sheltered housing scheme
12 May 2006

South Somerset Homes has this week completed another makeover at their sheltered housing scheme in Somerton. The scheme at Parsonage Close in Somerton has had major improvements carried out to the communal room, the residents’ bungalows and the scheme as a whole. The works have been carried out by their partnering builder Rok.

The works have been undertaken as part of the 5 year planned maintenance programme and include opening the kitchen up to become a large open plan area and installing new kitchen units, decorating the whole communal room and replacing the old tired furniture with new furniture and curtains and installing new doors to give wheelchair access. The toilet facilities have also been improved and a shower installed, both of which are now accessible to disabled residents.

Some of the residents have also had improvement works carried out to their bungalows including new kitchens and bathrooms and in addition to this the external front doors to the scheme have been painted, and the external back doors have had the steps removed and ramps and rails have been installed. The whole scheme has also had new fencing and gates.

Sue Williams, Scheme Manager at Parsonage Close said, “We are thrilled with the work that was carried out, which was finished to a very high standard. We had a very good working relationship between all involved. The community centre now has disabled facilities, which has opened it up to the wider community.”

Jack Frappell, a resident at Parsonage Close sheltered scheme and Chairman of Parsonage Close Residents Association said, “I would like to thank South Somerset Homes, the builders, Rok and all the workmen who fitted the new kitchen and did all the painting and decorating, which was a marvellous job.”

“The work was rather disruptive for some residents, but the workmen were absolutely brilliant and nothing was too much trouble for them. The work that was carried out at the community centre was 1st class from the kitchen to all the fittings and decor.”

Rok has donated money towards a new cooker for the Parsonage Close kitchen and the residents are going to fundraise for the remainder of the money that is still needed. o.

From left to right: Richard Cleverton (Area Partnering Surveyor, SSH), Jean Duddridge (resident), Jack Frapple (resident), An gela Blunden (Tenant Liaison Officer), Damian Marsh (Site Manager, Rok), Sue Williams (Scheme Manager, SSH), Pat Collins (resident)