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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Nick Jackson

Family devastated by house fire left 'penniless' after being re-homed miles from school and work

A mum and dad say their family has been left penniless after fire tore through their Rochdale home - and they were rehoused miles away from schools and work.

Louise Holden and Christopher Dunn, parents of children aged 14 and seven, say the council initially offered to help with travel costs.

But they claim that offer was later withdrawn.

Now, more than nine weeks later, journeys to work and school have left them £1,066 out of pocket and they have no money to replace furniture lost in the fire, Louise says.

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Their ordeal started on May 20 when a blaze sparked by an electrical fault badly damaged their home in Hurstead Road, Milnrow.

They were immediately rehoused seven miles away at Isherwood Close, Heywood by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).

Both children attend schools in Milnrow and Louise is a child care worker at a Milnrow nursery.

Louise, 37, said: "The house is being fully renovated and we were promised that we would get funding help to get myself to work and my children to school.

"This has not been the case.

"I was told the renovation would take six to eight weeks and that there would be funding to help pay for taxis, but that time has now passed and no help has been given.

"We are currently £1,066 out of pocket purely on travel costs. I cannot replace any furniture or household items as most of my money is going to travel."

She said she had spoken with the council which has withdrawn the initial offer, instead offering bus passes.

Louise continued: "This would mean my young daughters waking up at 5am to get to school and not returning home until 6.30pm. We feel utterly defeated."

Christopher, 35, recently lost his job as a home-based quality manager.

He said: "It's costing £30 a day in a taxi fare to get Louise and our children to school and work and back.

"Louise only gets paid £40 a day. She's working full-time for £10 a day."

A spokesperson for RBH said: "The fire in May caused a significant amount of damage.

"Over £20,000 of repairs are required to return the house to a habitable condition so that our tenant can return.

"On the day of the fire, we immediately provided fully-furnished alternative accommodation for our tenant as well as covering the removal and storage costs for the family's furniture and other possessions.

"This temporary home will be available until we are able to complete the required repairs.

"We are confident that the family will be able to return home before the children return to school in September."

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