7:26am Wednesday 21st November 2007
By Emma Clark
A DISTRAUGHT father says he fears he may have to stop seeing two of his children to prevent them living in an "overcrowded and unhygienic" flat.
Mark Payne, 32, believes St Albans District Council is forcing him to make the heartbreaking decision - but has vowed to fight to keep his family together.
Kirstie Amos, 24, and Mark live in a two-bedroom council flat in Pickford Hill, Harpenden, with their daughter Alyssa, two, and accommodate Mark's two other children from a previous marriage at the weekends.
When Kirstie found out she was pregnant the couple applied to be moved to a three bedroom property, but were told they were not entitled to.
As a result the couple say they are being forced to bring up the four children in an overcrowded flat because the council will not recognise visiting children as a need for a larger house.
Mark, a bus driver in St Albans, says he is worried his children will become fed up and won't want to stay with them. He also says if the flat becomes too crowded he may have to make the tough decision to protect them.
He said: "I'm worried I'm going to be left with a crippling decision.
"I either give my children a crowded, and basically sub-standard life here, or I may have to stop seeing them. And there is no way I want to do that. It's not a fair situation to be faced with.
"I just can't believe that there is not anything the council is prepared to do.
"We can't even buy baby clothes, let alone a buggy yet because we literally have nowhere to store them."
Mark and Kirstie have labelled St Albans District Council's housing policy as "out-of-date" and claim family dynamics are changing and so should council policies - a call backed by homeless charity Shelter.
When Kirstie gives birth in February the couple will have no choice but to make Brian, eight, and Amy, six, sleep in the same room as Alyssa and the new baby boy.
Kirstie, who has lived in the flat with Mark for two years, said: "I couldn't believe it when they said we're not entitled to three bedrooms, I thought it was an error.
"We realise they only stay at the weekends, but when they leave they don't take their beds or toys or clothes with them.
"And with a baby on the way we can't possibly fit four children in one room. It's stressful and upsetting that we can't give the children what they need and deserve.
"Families are changing and the council needs to change with it.
"It's as if the council is saying that Brian and Amy don't exist; it's a daft policy.
"There are a lot of families in the same situation as us now. I feel like a failure because I can't provide for my children."
St Albans District Council says its policy for housing only applies to permanent residents. It added that the couple will not be entitled to a three bedroom house until Alyssa turns 11, the age that boys and girls have to be separated.
Georgina Nolan of Shelter Hertfordshire Housing Aid Centre said: "Shelter believes updating the antiquated overcrowding standard is vital if the Government is serious about helping the one million children currently trapped in overcrowded housing.
"The current law, which remains unchanged since 1935, does not count children under one and considers kitchens and living rooms as acceptable places to sleep.
"They must be replaced with a modern overcrowding standard based on today's understanding of the need for space and privacy."
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