Council house asthma victory

Thomas Waller, now aged 11, had to be hospitalised three times in six weeks while living in a mouldy bungalow next to Stocksbridge Junior School where his father John worked as the caretaker.

John and his wife Tracy say they complained again and again about the state of the caretaker's accommodation, where they lived for five years, but Sheffield Council failed to do anything about it.

"It got to the stage where Thomas was hospitalised three times in six weeks with his condition and we decided we couldn't go on like that," said John.

"There was a serious problem with the bungalow - we later found the central heating had been installed thro-ugh the damp-proof course.

"It was damp before we moved in but it became mouldy and horrible. Sheffield Council did nothing about it, despite the fact we complained several times."

John and his wife Tracy decided the state of Thomas's health had to come first - and John reluctantly gave up his caretaker's job so he and his family could move house.

"We had offered to move out of the bungalow while work was done on it but they wouldn't let us," he said.

"So I decided to pack the job in. As a result I'm now working in a warehouse earning 4,000 a year less, and we had to go into debt to afford a deposit for our new house," he said.

Thomas, now a pupil at Stocksbridge High School, has seen his health improve since the family moved to Shay Road, Stocksbridge.

"It was only later that we thought me might be able to take action over compensation," John said.

"We were told I had a good case for constructive dismissal but I was just too late to claim. So we went to the county court instead."

A compensation payment of 5,000 was agreed after the council accepted liability for the property's condition.

"It wasn't just Thomas who suffered - many clothes were also ruined including Tracy's wedding dress, but we were only offered 450 for that damage," said John.

"Since we left the bungalow they've ripped the place to bits to sort the problem out - all the fittings have been replaced.

"It's a shame it wasn't done while we were there."

Mark Peat, council officer in charge of Children's Service buildings, said: "We have settled this personal injury claim as required, and we wish the Waller family all the best for the future."

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