Caretaker must leave his home (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Caretaker must leave his home

A FORMER caretaker and his family have been given 28 days to leave their home. Allan Hunt, 44, of Pinehurst, was evicted from his flat on the site of Pinehurst Nursery, Infant and Junior School at a court hearing yesterday.

District Judge Byron Carron said Mr Hunt had no right to stay in the property.

Mr Hunt was sacked from his job as school caretaker in the summer, which meant that he is no longer eligible to live in the council-owned flat that comes with the job.

Prosecuting on behalf of the council, Brigitte Peplow, had applied to get the tenants evicted to make way for a new caretaker but, after hearing from Mr Hunt, District Judge Carron gave him an extra two weeks.

Mr Hunt, who moved in to the house in 2001, said that he had been victimised by the council and the school who forced him out of his job for complaining about his accommodation.

And he says he will take legal action against those he holds responsible.

Speaking at the hearing he said: "Trying to get things changed resulted in this case.

"I tried for four years to get action on some of the vital repairs such as a fire exit. They have sacked me in order to get rid of me.

"We have basically been treated disgustingly by the council for the last four years."

District Judge Carron told him: "You obviously have, in your own words, a grievance against Swindon Council.

"I can't comment on that. You are a service tenant and you don't have the sort of protection of any other tenancy and therefore my hands are tied."

Mr Hunt lives with his wife Colleen, 42, and son Ryan, 19 and none of them are employed at the moment.

The council says he was sacked for 'gross misconduct' but Mr Hunt says it was the stress over the state of the flat that cost him his job. The family faces being split up and put in emergency accommodation.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Hunt said: "In 28 days we are on the streets. I will take legal action when I qualify for legal aid."