A YOUNG mother of three is begging to be moved out of her house because she says the constant damp is threatening the health of her family.

Karen Selby, 25, has been a tenant of Wyedean Housing Association for eight years and lives in a terraced row of flats in Wilkes Meadow, Broadwell.

"There were signs of damp when we moved in, but nowhere near as bad as now. We've got damp and mould in most of the rooms. I've decorated loads of times, but there's just no point any more.

"I've got holes in my roof – you can see daylight through them – so when it rains the water comes straight through. There's no insulation in the walls, so it is freezing in winter, but we were advised to keep the damp under control by opening all windows and turning the heating up full, which is like throwing money out of the window."

Karen, the mother of Kyle aged seven, Cody, five, and six-month-old Lewis says: "My children have constant coughs, colds and ear infections. Lewis had a really bad eye infection, they've all had respiratory infections to the point where Kyle was taken into the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and put on nebulisers and two tanks of oxygen. And Lewis has rushed into hospital with bronchitis.

"I'm ill all the time, and so is my partner. Before this I was a very healthy child, no health problems at all. Neither of us had. This house is making us ill. I've been battling this for eight years now, I've been so nice and polite, but nothing ever seems to get done and now it is getting beyond a joke."

Several letters from Karen's doctors, seen by the Review have pressed Wyedean to move the family because of the health risks from the damp. Environmental services officers from the Forest of Dean District Council have also inspected the property.

Peter Williams, Group Manager of Planning and Housing at the Forest of Dean District Council, said: "Following a complaint an officer conducted a housing inspection of the property. During the inspection there was evidence of mould growth on the ceiling of both bedrooms.

"The damp and mould growth was rated as a Category 2 Hazard. This means that it's not an imminent risk to health, but if left unaddressed it could cause a more significant problem in the future.

"The council has also approached Severn Wye Energy Agency who may be able to provide further guidance on damp and condensation. Any further advice will be passed to the tenant and the landlord to try and eliminate the problem."

Pamela Jones, Housing Services Manager at Wyedean Housing Association said: "Wyedean Housing is aware of the situation with regard to issues of damp/mould in Miss Selby's property. We have taken all appropriate measures including liaising with Environmental Health and SWEA and have actioned the recommendations that were made."