Tenants old and new mark a milestone anniversary
25/11/2009
In 1989 a dozen people, including parish councillors and a vicar, united to champion affordable rural housing for Warwickshire people and so founded Warwickshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA).
On 18th November 2009, the 20th anniversary of the association was marked by board members past and present, parish and district councillors, contractors and some of the longest standing tenants. There was a display of photographs from schemes built during the 20 years.
Lady Valerie Owen, founding member and first chairman, and Matthew Dick, her successor, were among those at the gathering, held at The Granville @ Barford.
Craig Felts, WRHA company secretary, welcomed the guests and current chairman Derrick Dyas gave a speech. A cake, fittingly in the shape of a house, was then cut by new tenant Chris Carter, who moved into the village of Barford this week, and long standing residents Mark and Michaela Rogers and daughter Emily, aged 16 from WRHA first scheme at Stretton on Fosse .
Mrs Rogers said: “We are some of Warwickshire Rural’s original tenants and still love it here. My husband is from the village, his mum lives just up the road, and I work nearby so it’s perfect for us in every way.”
Derrick, a founder member of the association, said: “We started the association because we did not feel rural social housing had a high enough profile at that time. We also felt insufficient emphasis was placed on rural housing needs. Now we are living proof that investment in social housing brings tangible benefits to local communities.
“Two decades on and we recognise the need for affordable housing in the county's villages is more acute than ever, despite our efforts. Therefore, our primary objectives - providing high quality homes that meet local housing need, and I emphasise local - will remain.”
The first meeting of WRHA took place at Warwickshire Rural Community Council offices, in Warwick. The 12 founding members appointed one of its number, Lady Owen, as chairman and the minutes record her saying it was highly important to secure land at low prices for local housing.
The association has stayed true to this principle and only allows people with a local connection to an area, for example through family or work ties, to live in its properties to help keep communities vibrant. It now manages 456 homes in villages and small market towns across the county.
Tenants who have benefited include Ian Hartwell, of The Readings, Fenny Compton. He said: “I have been able to move from my parents’ house and set up home in the same village, which means being close to family and friends.”
“Thank you for giving me the chance to stay in the village that I have grown up in and bring my daughter up with my family around me, thank you and happy 20th anniversary”, added Lisa and Jade, of Hillside, Harbury.
To commemorate all that WRHA has achieved over the last 20 years, every resident has been sent a complimentary eco bag and entered into a Christmas prize draw for the chance to win a Marks & Spencer food hamper, worth £100.