Jon is 'Close' to being annoyed (From Barry And District News)

Jon is 'Close' to being annoyed

A BARRY homeowner is furious he is footing a bill for maintenance work he claims is not being done.

Jonathan Pritchard, 47, of Owens Close, has lived in his ground floor flat for just over a year. When he first bought the property he received a letter from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, giving him a breakdown of money to be paid annually for building maintenance.

But the warehouseman insists that although he pays his fees, there is never any improvement to the condition of the flats.

He told the News: "When I first got the bill, I was pleased, thinking the Vale of Glamorgan Council would carry out repairs and keep the nearby environment orderly. But then I started to notice that there were repairs needing to be done that weren't.

"When I moved in, the telephone intercom for my flat wasn't working. I have reported it, but nothing has been done. If I have visitors and the front door is shut, there is no way they can get my attention. And I pay £25 a year for the intercom.

"I have no objection to paying for maintenance, but so far the only actions that have been carried out as a result of my complaints is the replacement of coping stones on the steps leading up to the front door.

"And even they have not been cemented properly and are coming loose. The council haven't even been bothered to repair the road sign - it has read 's Close' since I moved in."

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: "In response to representations from Mr Pritchard, the council has identified a number of jobs relating to the communal areas at Owens Close and the exterior of the building, and these will be dealt with in line with the authority's target times."