SHELTERED housing wardens in Mid Argyll breathed a sigh of relief this week after learning their jobs have been saved - despite Argyll and Bute Council withdrawing more than a quarter of a million pounds of funding.
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) board of management have decided there will be no withdrawal of the service, and no staff will be made redundant.
In March this year, the previous £274,000 Supporting People grant, which went towards the sheltered housing service, was withdrawn by Argyll and Bute Council. It was feared that complexes in Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig, Tarbert and Inveraray could be axed.
However, an ACHA spokesman confirmed that the association has been able to agree a three-year plan that will allow the warden-based service to continue with backup.
He added: This will not be the level previously provided, but it will allow the consultation of the service through much closer linkages between sheltered housing complexes and the sharing of resources.
‘At a time when a number of housing associations and councils are moving away from a warden-based service on cost grounds, the association has done its best in financial circumstances to continue to provide a service which its tenants are used to and are comfortable with.’
Lochgilphead Councillor Donnie MacMillan welcomed the ‘positive outcome’. He added: ‘I am pleased they have found a workable solution.’
