Pre-Christmas present: Your homes are safe
Last updated 10:40, Thursday, 27 November 2008
CHRISTMAS has come early for the residents of Greenvale Court at Frizington – their home has been saved thanks to a strong village protest.
Copeland Homes has had a change of heart over plans to knock down the sheltered accommodation and replace it with a brand new unit.
Feelings were running high in Frizington and a petition circulated at last Friday’s Christmas lights switch on.
Three hundred signatures had been gathered but Copeland Homes announced the U-turn on Tuesday after The Whitehaven News had made further inquiries about the situation.
Managing director David Fisher said: “We had consultations with the residents in September, listened to what they had to say, have taken on board their concerns and now any plans we had for Greenvale Court are on hold until 2011 when the situation will be reviewed again.
“All the residents are very happy.”
One of the campaigners, Norma Charters, whose 90-year-old auntie Mary Tomlinson has lived in Greenvale for 18 years, said: “It’s the best Christmas present ever.
“ I don’t know what the reason is but it doesn’t matter, I am just overjoyed that Greenvale is safe.”
Mary said: “It’s really wonderful, we all feel more settled now.
“I was still being asked whether I wanted to move into a new bungalow but I didn’t and that’s that.”
Twenty-eight elderly people live at Greenvale.
They had vowed not to be moved, unlike at Walkmill Court, Hensingham, where the residents were mostly in favour of their sheltered accommodation being demolished and replaced by more modern units.
Copeland Council has agreed a £2 million scheme to build 20 flats and 11 bungalows on the Red Lonning site.
Greenvale residents were adamant that they should be allowed to stay put.
Norma Charters said: “Greenvale offers a very good standard of accommodation.
“It’s spotlessly clean, well maintained and the fabric is in good repair, so there was no need to put the residents through all the upheaval and trauma that would have taken place.”
Glad to hear Greenvale Court has been saved. Merry Xmas!
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Have your say
Delighted to hear that Greenvale Court is to remain open as a Sheltered Housing Scheme. Hopefully, Copeland Homes will gradually upgrade the accommodation to meet modern standards and encourage people to move in and also ensure that a resident warden remains on site. This is, after all, what Sheltered or Supported Accommodation for the elderly in our community is all about.
Without adequate upgrading and support fewer flats will be tenanted and in 2011, when the situation is reviewed, the landlords will have a strong argument for closure of the facility.
Sheltered accommodation provides security,opportunities for social interaction and freedom from the total responsibilty of maintaining a building, which can cause worry and anxiety in the frail elderly. It's a system that has worked for many years - why change it?
Posted by Maureen Fisher on 27 November 2008 kl. 22:40