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'Unborn baby at risk from home'
A MUM-to-be who fears her living conditions could affect her unborn child is appealing to be rehoused.
Worried Kelly Kane has won the support of South Shields MP David Miliband in her fight to be moved urgently before her first baby is born seven weeks from now.
Ms Kane and her partner, David Hall, live on the third floor of a block of flats in Dean Road, South Shields, and want to be rehoused because of what they allege are the unsanitary conditions affecting their lives.
They also fear Ms Kane will be virtually housebound after giving birth because she'll be unable to manage the stairs to the flat on her own with the baby.
The couple, both 31, have appealed to South Tyneside Homes to think again after it rejected their plea for a move.
Mr Miliband wrote to Isobel Riley, chief executive officer with the housing group, saying: "I would be grateful if you would look at it again, as I know Ms Kane has concerns about her safety and that of the baby if she has to manage the stairs on her own.
"I know the council is limited in what homes they can offer due to the criteria, but I would be grateful if you could look at this case again – to ensure that Ms Kane and her child have a decent quality of life.
"Is it possible for Kelly and David to be referred to other housing associations in South Tyneside by South Tyneside Homes?"
Ms Kane, a personal assistant, whose baby is due on October 29, said: "All we want is to be able to bring up our first child in a safe and secure home that we can enjoy together as a family.
"If we don't get another home, it will affect our baby. It may already have done so.
"I am also terrified of the resident Rottweiler. I don't want to worry about being in a confined stairwell with the animal.
"Once I have the baby, I have no intention of leaving the flat. As I have no confidence on the stairs, let alone carry a baby and a pram down them too."
Mr Hall, a self-employed plaster and tiler, said: "We have been recommended to leave our new pram in a cupboard on the ground floor; the only problem being that it does not lock.
"We don't feel this is a viable option as the block isn't secure and neither is the cupboard.
"We feel it is an unfair request to be asked to leave such an expensive item outside of our own flat.
"The block is dirty and we can't remember the last time it was cleaned. The corridors constantly smell of cat's urine. This can be damaging to a pregnant woman's health and the unborn baby."
Ms Riley said: "We are in talks with Ms Kane about her situation, and she has recently been visited by her estate officer and our occupational therapist to discuss her circumstances.
"We do sympathise with her, but the policy is that third-floor flats are let as family homes and are classed as suitable for children.
"We have also given her advice about other possibilities for rehousing.
"Ms Kane has raised this as a complaint, and will be reconsidered under our complaints procedure."
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
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