BACK in 1979 the father of Teignmouth’s biggest family hit back at criticism over a move to find them a bigger house.

An article read: George Smale and his wife Joyce live in with their 13 children at Hutchings Way.

The pre-war house is grossly overcrowded and Teignbridge council are considering knocking two other homes in the area into one for the family, which consists of nine girls and four boys, with ages ranging from 17 to a few weeks.

But many neighbours are opposed to the plan because of the expense involved.

George responded: ‘Only two of the bedrooms can be slept in because the third is so damp. It means sleeping in the lounge and we desperately need a bigger house.

‘Ideally I would like to return to my native Devonport where there would be more chance of finding work.

‘I would like to move right away from Teignmouth and Hutchings Way because we seem to be accused of all sorts of things that are not true.

‘We get blamed for everything that goes wrong in the road.

‘Stones are thrown at the house and I have to keep the children in because they are picked on in the street and get involved with the wrong people.

‘I am a quiet man and do not want any trouble. I just want to live in peace with everybody. We mind our own business and do not interfere with our neighbours.’

Members of the Hutchings Way Women’s Community Club, a tenants’ association set up to fight for improvements to the homes, said they would be opposed to the conversion of two modern homes because there were a great many people on the housing waiting list.

‘Other people also living in the older properties would also like a new house,’ a club member said.

‘It would be much better if two of the older homes were converted instead. It is bound to cost a lot of money and we think the council should first make sure all the houses are up to standard.’

‘Over the years Hutchings Way has been badly neglected by the local authority. We even employed a solicitor to try to make the council carry out improvements and repairs. Some of the older houses are in a deplorable condition and people are spending huge amounts on heating because of the shocking insulation.

‘We have nothing against the Smale family at all. This is a very friendly street.’

Teignbridge housing officer Raymond Ashton said a £60,000 repair programme was due to start in Hutchings Way. The council had been asked by social services to provide the large family with more adequate accommodation, and the authority had a duty to comply.

Postscript: It is understood that two houses were converted into one for the family, but was reinstated to a double when the family later left the area.