PEOPLE have been moved to rally round in support of an Iraq hero who says people live in mud huts better than the council house his family has been offered.
A series of donations have already been pledged to Terry Hewitt and his 21-year-old wife Amanda and two sons Alister, three, and Archie, one, after his story appeared in the Evening Post. Everything from bedding to curtains have been offered along with help to transform the house.
The 30-year-old trooper, who left The Queen's Royal Hussars to spend more time with his family, said he was taken aback that people had been moved to help after he revealed he had been offered a sub-standard property to live in compared to his former married quarters in Paderborn, Germany.
A Swansea Council spokesman apologised to the family over the situation and promised to carry out further repairs at the property.
Mr Hewitt said he was now optimistic of moving into the Tyle Teg property before Christmas.
He said: "I've had a plasterer called Jamie get in touch who gives up a day a month to help people out and the council has started to do more work in the house.
"I am speechless actually at the way people want to help and I am surprised with the response.
"I was in the pub on the night that the story went into the paper and there was an old gentleman who bought me and my wife a drink."
He added: "We are hoping to move into the house in the next two weeks — the story has made a big difference." The former soldier, who served nine years in the Army on tours to Iraq and Kosovo, said he had seen "better mud huts in Iraq" compared with the council house.
He initially got in touch with Swansea Council three months ago about finding a new home in the city and was pleased they had responded so quickly. But he claimed he wasn't immediately given the key to the property and that nothing was done about repairing or painting the house.
He said there were a series of problems with the house, including that all the walls needed fixing, the lounge wall had old wallpaper held up by sticky tape, there was no carpet on the floor and there was also no gas and electricity at the property.
Further repairs were also needed to be carried out in all of the bedrooms as there were holes in the skirting boards where the plaster was coming off and there were also cracked tiles in the bathroom.
The situation led to the family having to stay with Amanda's Brynhyfryd-based godmother Sally Aston but they are now hoping to be able to move in before Christmas. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help is aiding the family.
Dave Singletary, SSAFA West Glamorgan chairman, called into question the help offered. He added: "We have signed an Armed Forces Covenant in Swansea which is supporting ex-servicemen. Is this support?"
Mr Hewitt said he was now hopeful of seeing Christmas in their new home. He said: "We have started to buy Christmas decorations and we also bought a Christmas tree yesterday."
A Swansea Council spokesman previously added: "We worked closely with Mr and Mrs Hewitt to re-house them following his discharge from the Army. There have been problems with some repairs, so we've apologised and agreed to carry out more works at the property."
