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| Anger over Chinese bride refusal | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A pensioner has criticised a council for refusing permission for his Chinese bride-to-be to move in to his flat at a Swansea valley sheltered complex. | A pensioner has criticised a council for refusing permission for his Chinese bride-to-be to move in to his flat at a Swansea valley sheltered complex. |
| Ken Miller, 69, has been told by Neath Port Talbot Council his 44-year-old future wife Yin Qieo cannot join him at his home in Ystalyfera. | Ken Miller, 69, has been told by Neath Port Talbot Council his 44-year-old future wife Yin Qieo cannot join him at his home in Ystalyfera. |
| He has accused the council of acting as the "keeper of his principles." | He has accused the council of acting as the "keeper of his principles." |
| The council said there were age rules at the retirement complex but the couple might be housed elsewhere. | |
| Mr Miller, who served with the Royal Navy, said: "I can understand the principle of it being an older persons' complex. | Mr Miller, who served with the Royal Navy, said: "I can understand the principle of it being an older persons' complex. |
| "But I think it's strange that I could go out tonight, pick somebody up, and nothing would be said if she stayed the night." | "But I think it's strange that I could go out tonight, pick somebody up, and nothing would be said if she stayed the night." |
| He added: "We are in self-contained flats and there is nothing to say that I cannot have visitors so why can't this young lady stay while we find somewhere else to stay? | He added: "We are in self-contained flats and there is nothing to say that I cannot have visitors so why can't this young lady stay while we find somewhere else to stay? |
| Dating agency | Dating agency |
| "The local authority are not the keepers of my principles. | "The local authority are not the keepers of my principles. |
| "They may not like the idea that I'm with a young woman and that she is from another country but, if that is their objection, they are on dangerous ground." | "They may not like the idea that I'm with a young woman and that she is from another country but, if that is their objection, they are on dangerous ground." |
| Mr Miller contacted his wife-to-be, who lives in the city of Nanning in south west China through a dating agency at the end of August. | Mr Miller contacted his wife-to-be, who lives in the city of Nanning in south west China through a dating agency at the end of August. |
| I've had eight years of loneliness, but now I have the chance of spending the rest of my life in companionship Ken Miller | I've had eight years of loneliness, but now I have the chance of spending the rest of my life in companionship Ken Miller |
| He started e-mailing her every day and within a month he proposed. | He started e-mailing her every day and within a month he proposed. |
| They plan to marry in her native country in December before returning to Britain together in February. | They plan to marry in her native country in December before returning to Britain together in February. |
| Mr Miller moved to Neath with his first wife in 1963 and found work with Ford. | Mr Miller moved to Neath with his first wife in 1963 and found work with Ford. |
| When his wife died of cancer in 1992, he remarried the following year but was divorced several years ago. | When his wife died of cancer in 1992, he remarried the following year but was divorced several years ago. |
| Of his wife-to-be, he said: "Her English is limited and I don't think she is really aware of what is going on over here with the council. | Of his wife-to-be, he said: "Her English is limited and I don't think she is really aware of what is going on over here with the council. |
| "We have a language difficulty, which we will overcome - there are ways and means, and it's not unusual in this day and age. | "We have a language difficulty, which we will overcome - there are ways and means, and it's not unusual in this day and age. |
| Under consideration | Under consideration |
| "I don't have any relations, I don't have any visitors. I don't want pity, I just want somebody for myself. | "I don't have any relations, I don't have any visitors. I don't want pity, I just want somebody for myself. |
| "I've had eight years of loneliness, but now I have the chance of spending the rest of my life in companionship." | "I've had eight years of loneliness, but now I have the chance of spending the rest of my life in companionship." |
| Robert Rees, head of housing services at Neath Port Talbot Council, said Mr Miller has lived at the Maesydarren complex for three years and told the housing office in August he was seeking to re-marry. | Robert Rees, head of housing services at Neath Port Talbot Council, said Mr Miller has lived at the Maesydarren complex for three years and told the housing office in August he was seeking to re-marry. |
| "He was immediately advised that due to the age restriction at Maesydarren, his wife would not be permitted to reside at the complex, even on a temporary basis, as the complex is controlled retirement accommodation for residents aged 60 and over," he said. | "He was immediately advised that due to the age restriction at Maesydarren, his wife would not be permitted to reside at the complex, even on a temporary basis, as the complex is controlled retirement accommodation for residents aged 60 and over," he said. |
| "Mr Miller has had his housing options explained to him fully and he has decided to pursue a transfer, and his application is currently under consideration." | "Mr Miller has had his housing options explained to him fully and he has decided to pursue a transfer, and his application is currently under consideration." |