24 January 2005

Michael Howard Helps Disabled Constituent To Get Home Adaptations Made

Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard has intervened to help Mr Edward O’Neon of Lucy Avenue, Folkestone to get much needed wheelchair adaptations made to his home.

Mr O’Neon had been waiting several years for wheelchair adaptations to be undertaken by North British Housing Limited but found that the work was continually pushed back and delayed. Mr Howard spoke to Mr O’Neon on the doorstep during the June 2004 elections and subsequently took Mr O’Neon’s case up, fighting for the adaptations to be made over the subsequent six months.

Mr Howard worked closely with KASBAH (Kent Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus – see www.kasbah.org.uk), where he is Patron, liasing with NBH, Shepway District Council and Kent County Council Occupational Therapy Bureau on Mr O’Neon’s behalf.

Mr Howard recently received a very positive reply from Shepway District Council informing him that Mr O’Neon’s adaptation work has been prioritised for April 2005, the start of the new financial year. NBH have also informed Mr Howard that they are in receipt of all tender returns and will instruct their consultants to arrange a mutually convenient appointment with Mr O’Neon, Barbara Nicholson (Occupational Therapist) and the contractor in order to take this matter forward.

Mr Howard said: “Mr and Mrs O’Neon have been waiting an incredibly long time to have adaptation work carried out which will allow Mr O’Neon to get around their home in his wheelchair. I am pleased that I have been able to help Mr and Mrs O’Neon over the past six months and am delighted that we have finally achieved our goal of securing funding and agreement for the work to commence.”