A BACHELOR is fighting eviction from the council bungalow he shared with his fiancée, who tragically died shortly before they were due to marry.
Scott Loveng, 58, was hoping to wed childhood friend Linda Sewrey last spring.
They became engaged and he moved in with her at her New Forest District Council bungalow in Ashley Common Road, New Milton.
But it was discovered she was suffering from cancer and she died on January 19 last year before the wedding on April 15.
Mr Loveng, a member of St Peter’s Church in Ashley, believes he has the right of succession to the property.
But the council says he had been unable to prove the bungalow was his only and principal home.
Mr Loveng said he had been looking after a family member in Aldershot but had spent “90 per cent of his time” in New Milton.
He fought the proceedings in court in January and lost because he had no legal aid and “no proper defence was filed”.
His doctor in New Milton wrote to the court saying Mr Loveng suffers from an osteoarthritic spine, bronchitis and is likely to be suffering from “signif-icant emotional stress”.
Mr Loveng should have moved out by February 16 and the council has applied for a bailiff’s warrant to evict him.
But Mr Loveng said: “I’ve now made a financial arrangement for a solicitor to help me in this and for a proper defence to be filed.”
He said the housing department had not discussed his case properly with him but had come up with a last-minute offer of sheltered accommodation in Totton.
But Mr Loveng said: “This is my home, this is my church, these are my friends. If they want to move me, why isn’t there somewhere local?”
Council housing estates manager Pauline Lewis said Mr Loveng “has had months to deal with the situation”.
“An officer from New Forest District Council’s housing needs department spoke to Mr Loveng last week to make an offer of alternative accommodation. However, Mr Loveng refused to discuss this with her.”
