AS the fastest expanding borough in the country, Colchester is experiencing some pretty tough growing pains.

There aren’t enough homes for everyone, the number waiting for a council house has shot up and there is less money in the cashpot to help.

About 6,000 people are currently on Colchester Council’s housing register, with more than ten per cent of those classed among the top priority cases.

Tim Young, councillor responsible for housing in Colchester, said it was the biggest waiting list he’d known in 19 years on the council.

He added: “The numbers certainly aren’t going down.

“I remember when it used to be 3,000, then it went to 4,000 and 5,000, and we’re now at 6,000.

“It goes to show the scale of need, particularly as Colchester expands. It’s the fastest growing district in the country; it has very good transport links with Stansted Airport, Harwich for the port and London.

“All these factors, as well as the history and culture, make it a very attractive place.

“I’m not surprised people want to live here, but we have to match that with the pressing need for housing local people.

“The prices are increasing and Colchester is becoming more expensive to purchase properties, so people get priced out.

“Whenever we are in these economic and financial hardships, we get extra pressure with more people needing emergency housing.”

Mr Young said the council was doing its best and meeting housing targets, with 35 per cent of new homes built being affordable.

He added: “The developers know this is a growing town and it has a housing need.

“They’re willing to keep developing here, despite the amount of affordable housing we ask of them.”

Last Wednesday, a new housing project was confirmed at Colchester United’s former ground in Layer Road, to provide 20 extra affordable homes.

But the council’s successes are tempered by budget cuts, both directly from central government and money through its Homes and Communities Agency.

Jessie Cheeseman, her boyfriend Steven Chandler and their two-year-old daughter Ruby have been waiting to be homed for five months.

Miss Cheeseman said they had been told by the council they could be housed if they moved out of privately-rented accommodation, where they were having problems with storage heaters.

However, they have been homeless since August and have moved around, staying with relatives.

Miss Cheeseman and Ruby are staying with her parents, Tracy and Stephen Carter, and her brother, Harry, 14, in a two-bedroom house in King Stephen Road, Colchester. Mr Chandler is living with his sister.

Miss Cheeseman, 22, said: “It’s like banging your head against a brick wall.

“It’s so stressful having to rely on and live with others.

“Ruby is the most beautiful little girl, but I can see a change in her behaviour and how this has all affected her.

“We’re all stressed and it’s causing so much friction.

“We’ve been to view two properties but then we’ve had phone calls to say they’ve been given to someone else and I can’t tell you how that feels.”

Matt Sterling, the council’s housing and communities manager, said the couple had been given advice and offered emergency accommodation while an investigation was carried out.

He said: “The council does not have a legal duty to offer them a home.

“The couple are still entitled to be registered for social housing and bid for properties when they become available.”

The couple are bidding for social housing on the register Colchester Council shares with seven other local authorities.

There are five bands ranging from A – the highest – to E and people are ranked in those bands according to their current housing need.

Miss Cheeseman has been placed in band C rather than band B, because the council does not accept it has a duty to them, because they were found to be intentionally homeless.

Out of the 6,000 waiting for a council home in Colchester, 757 are in the top two priority bands and 2,293 are in band C.

The council said it could not estimate the average waiting time.