Sheltered housing in Swindon to reinstate dedicated wardens after policy reversal

Swindon Borough Council has announced that every sheltered housing scheme in the area will once again have its own dedicated warden, reversing a previous policy of "floating wardens."

This change was revealed by Councillor Janine Howarth, the council's cabinet member for housing, during a budget meeting where councillors approved a 4.8 per cent increase in council rents.

Councillor Howarth stated, "We promised if we took control of the council we would look at sheltered wardens. I have spoken with tenants in sheltered housing and they are still upset by the measure that was brought in. I am pleased to say that, under the housing restructure, we are reversing the policy that began under the previous administration of floating support wardens, and there will be a dedicated warden per scheme."

Residents welcome change

Francis Smith, a resident who lived at the Charles Macpherson Gardens scheme in Eldene, played a significant role in organizing protests against the change to floating wardens.

Councillor Howarth paid tribute to Smith, who has since passed away, acknowledging his efforts: "I wish Francis Smith had been here to hear this: Charles Mac fought back, and won."

Ronald Harrison, 77, a current resident of the scheme, participated in protests at the civic offices and expressed his approval of the policy reversal.

"This is much better," Harrison said. "It’s called sheltered housing for a reason—we only have a warden for two hours a day, and a lot of people here, especially in the big house, where a lot of people are over 90, need their help."

Patricia Burridge, 87, another resident, also supported the decision, stating, "I think it’s a much better idea. A lot of people do need their help, and it’s much better to have someone here all the time."

Background on policy

The previous policy, announced by the former Conservative council administration in 2021, replaced individual wardens with floating support wardens contactable by telephone.

At the time, Councillor Cathy Martyn, the then cabinet member for housing, cited difficulties in attracting wardens who needed to live at the scheme as a reason for the change.

However, many residents opposed the move and actively lobbied against it.

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