Plaid support for tenant (From Western Telegraph)

Plaid support for tenant

A Letterston man faces eviction from the council house in which he has lived for 45 years.

Denzil Phillips, 59, of 14 Min-y-Llan Letterston, is facing eviction by Pembrokeshire County Council, which has refused to transfer the tenancy of his house to him after the death of his mother.

Plaid Cymru's Westminster group leader Elfyn Llwyd visited Mr Phillips on Monday to give his support.

Denzil has appeared in court twice already, and is due to appear again on May 12th, faced with the eviction notice.

Matt Mathias, Plaid Cymru's Preseli Pembrokeshire candidate, described the case as an 'appallingly cruel situation'.

"Mr Phillips faces losing his house and the community he has known all of his life," he said.

Denzil's father died in 1983, after which a second tenancy was put in his mother's name.

The county council refused to give a third tenancy to Denzil, who works for Summerdale Coaches, as a driver and carer.

"Me, my father and grandfather were all born here, we are a local family," he said." I have been told that because I am only one, I can't live in a three bedroom house. I agree and am happy to move to a bungalow in Letterston, but the county council hasn't offered me any alternative. They say I am only entitled to a flat, but there are no flats in Letterston.

"I couldn't possibly move from Letterston, I was born and bred here and my job is here." Elfyn Llwyd said: "The council is taking a very rigid approach to the law. Denzil and his family have been good faithful tenants for 50 years and I would want to see more flexibility and the council exercise a moral obligation to find Denzil another property in Letterston."

He said this case highlights the effects that the shortage of social and affordable housing for rent and purchase is having on people's lives in Pembrokeshire.

A county council spokesman said: "Mr Phillips was informed some time ago that he is not entitled to succeed to the tenancy of 14 Min-y-Llan, Letterston, due to the fact that there has already been one statutory transfer of tenancy within the family at this address.

"He is also a single tenant in occupation of a three-bedroom property for which there is considerable demand.

"The authority has been working with Mr Phillips to find him one-bedroom accommodation appropriate for a single person and his position entitles him to priority on the housing waiting list.

"Although he has stated his desire to remain in the Letterston area, there are no vacant suitable properties in the village.

"An available property is likely to become available in Dinas shortly, for which Mr Phillips will be considered along with eligible tenants from the housing list."