| HORSHAM District’s Handy Van
service provides invaluable assistance around the home for many people - and its
popularity continues to grow. Launched just over a year ago, the service
offers low cost help for small repair and minor adaptation works in
eligible residents’ homes, as well as helping to increase household
safety and security.
“Whilst the Horsham District is a low crime zone, certain groups of
people can have more fear of crime than others,” comments Cllr Vivien
Lyth, Cabinet Member for Community Partnerships and Housing Services at
Horsham District Council. These groups can include the elderly, previous
victims of crime and vulnerable people. Many people within these groups
appreciate the opportunity to get low cost maintenance and repair works
carried out around their homes, by people they can trust.”
The Handy Van Service, which is a partnership between Horsham District
Council, Saxon Weald and the Horsham Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership, aims to tackle these diverse requirements quickly,
effectively and affordably. The work that the Handy Van service can
undertake includes fitting security chains and window locks, adding spy
holes to doors and even a speaker system that can remind homeowners to
put a chain on before opening the door to callers. |
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Additionally, the friendly
Handy Van team is able to fit smoke detectors,stair gates and various
minor repair works such as putting up curtain rails, fitting lever taps
and hand rails or unblocking guttering. “Since its launch in January 2004, the Handy Van service has completed
nearly 800 jobs,” explains Cathy Holloway at Saxon Weald. “As the
service costs just £18 (from 1st April 2005), which covers the call out
and up to two hours work (some materials are charged separately), the
Handy Van service is easily affordable to all residents in the District
who fall into the one of the above categories. “When you consider the
prompt response times and high quality of workmanship produced, this
service is the most cost effective way of maintaining and securing
homes.
”The two Handy Van operatives carry official ID cards and the van itself
is distinctively branded with logos so that residents know who has
pulled up outside their property. As part of each visit, the Handy Van
service offers a free ten point crime prevention and fire safety check
to customers. If additional door chains, smoke alarms or additional
locks are needed they are provided free of charge by the Horsham
District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.
To make a booking for the Handy Van service, those residents who are
eligible (this includes the elderly, previous victims of crime and
vulnerable people) should call 01403 226005. |
