SEnine
Cowboy Builders The
BBC and a supportive congregation have
combined to relieve an Eltham Pastor from his building ‘hell’
John Watson, Pastor of Eltham Green Community Church in Westhorne Avenue, was left in limbo by the builder he employed to extend his home.
Despite having paid out more than £30,000, he was left with the shell of a two storey extension, without a roof and open to the elements.
Given his family circumstances, John and his father Terry, had no choice but to do a crash course in building, learning on the job, calling friends and searching the internet.
“It’s amazing what you can do when you have to”, he said. “Members of the Church were
been shown on BBC 1, shows the presenter Chris Holland confronting the builder on the telephone. It also gives advice to householders how to reduce the risk of having problems with major domestic projects.
“Looking back we should never have paid so much up front, followed up the references and made sure we had more solid contracts in place”, said Mr Watson, who has been Pastor of the Eltham Green Community Church for fi ve years.
“Then we should only have given him money in stages, as each part of the project was properly done”, he said.
Mr Watson had needed the extra space in his home, which is off Well Hall Road, to accommodate his wife Janna and three young children, Chloe, Esther and Benjamin.
“We were promised a special deal, which made us feel easier at paying some money up front, which in hindsight was where we went wrong”, said Mr Watson.
“One day the builders didn’t return and despite promises of the work continuing with other staff it never happened, we sued but the company went into liquidation”, he said.
Your Community is what you make it
giving time and money to help us. Someone suggested that we contact the BBC programme ‘Cowboy Trap’.
As part of the deal, the BBC paid for further works to be carried out on the extension, which will contain a further bedroom, play space and a kitchen.
The programme, which has recently
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“But, to look on the positive side, we have learnt so much practically and been so blessed by the loyalty and commitment of our friends, family and Church”, he said.
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