Neighbours' war with wounded soldiers' families

Saw this in yesterdays Daily Mail

Disgusting! How can these people live with themselves? ...... snobby pillocks!

 

[gemarriott]

Maybe no need, but from a residents point of view, still possible. Allowing the change of use also sets a precedent.

There is of course a need. Perhaps the real story here is that we are having to rely on charitable agencies rather than our employer for facilities of this type.

helluva good point mettimee, this is a goverment job being performed by a charity.

 

[Defender of the universe]

You seem to have missed the point old son. There is an URGENT NEED for this facilty NOW, not in 2 years time after all the wranglings and the actual build.

Not missing the point.
The hospitals have plenty of wards left unused and desolate. The money could be used to revamp these into accomodation and would cost a lot less than 1.6 million

 

[FOMz]

Off you pop down HC then and tell them that they've got loads of empty wards.................

 

[Defender of the universe]

Off you pop down HC then and tell them that they've got loads of empty wards.................

Dont need to tell them they already know.
They also have a couple of disused buildings which they use for storage, these too could be converted.
If this is too much work then buy some smaller properties and convert them, not difficult and would definately be better value.

 

[Seymour Tw@tt]

Well, thats the nub of the issue isn't it, money is the be-all and end-all in our society. Some of us work to help make society a better place, others just work for themselves but guess who ends up with the bigger stash at the end DT_Xtremez_25:
OK, nobody said life was fair but I'd wager that if most of us were in a similar position we'd be somewhat more altruistic. But of course you don't get to live in million quid houses by joining the armed forces as an erk, and when you are in a position to own a million quid house you almost certainly didn't get there by thinking of anyone but yourself.
The UK is heading fast towards a 'last days of the Roman Empire' scenario, perhaps one day having a few million quid in the bank will be utterly useless. What will matter is having practical skills that can be used in the real world. The we'll see who will lord it over who DT_Xtremez_32:

Shoulder chip well and truly in place DT_Xtremez_30:

Tip top post there, PSBM. These are the times when you would wish for a revolution of sorts, to see these cretins dragged out of their "piles" and shown the road so that the cohorts of proletarian troops can use their gaffs.

The selfish society we have these days is thanks to the odious individuals who inhabit these places, with their haughty ideas of what's right and what's acceptable in their little corner. Unfortunately these ideas have precipitated down to the lowest levels with the result that it's the general feeling in society nowadays.

Personally I put it all down to the "get rich quick at the expense of others, screw everyone else, I'm all right" attitude of the 80s and 90s... and it can only get worse

DT_Xtremez_26:

 

[wgaf]

Dont need to tell them they already know.
They also have a couple of disused buildings which they use for storage, these too could be converted.
If this is too much work then buy some smaller properties and convert them, not difficult and would definately be better value.

Do you not think for one minute, that people with a better grasp of the situation than you have not been through these possibilities already?
So come on then font of all knowledge how much would it cost for these disused buildings, probably long since uninhabitable, to be renovated?
As for buying smaller properties and renovating them what fukking planet are you on? To buy 2 smaller properties and renovate them is going to cost a bucket load more money. Money that would be better spent by SSAFA on other things.

 

[propersplitbrainme]

This link to Pprune gives an excellent framework for anyone considering a letter to the council concerned...

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3421046&postcount=61

 

[Defender of the universe]

Do you not think for one minute, that people with a better grasp of the situation than you have not been through these possibilities already?
So come on then font of all knowledge how much would it cost for these disused buildings, probably long since uninhabitable, to be renovated?
As for buying smaller properties and renovating them what fukking planet are you on? To buy 2 smaller properties and renovate them is going to cost a bucket load more money. Money that would be better spent by SSAFA on other things.

Here goes then.
House Guildford no renovation required six bedrooms with annexe of granny flat consisting of 2 bedrooms scope for further buildings to be converted if required ........£775,000 bit of a difference to £1.6 million cor wow look we could buy 2 of them.
As for renovation of the buildings at HC my estimate judging by the work done by my cousin on his properties would be between £300,000 - £500,000. However if you want to make them habitable for RAF standard then you could easily knock off a couple of hundred k.
There my knowledge has been used and look at the facts, you can buy cheaper houses and often larger for the money so I beg to differ in my opinion with you.
Although Guildford is a little bit to travel I see this as a better option than travelling hundreds of miles for the families.
Dont take my word for it just look at the property guides on line and watch a bit of tv it will give you an insight into renovation and costs.

 

[gemarriott]

Here goes then.
House Guildford no renovation required six bedrooms with annexe of granny flat consisting of 2 bedrooms scope for further buildings to be converted if required ........£775,000 bit of a difference to £1.6 million cor wow look we could buy 2 of them.
As for renovation of the buildings at HC my estimate judging by the work done by my cousin on his properties would be between £300,000 - £500,000. However if you want to make them habitable for RAF standard then you could easily knock off a couple of hundred k.
There my knowledge has been used and look at the facts, you can buy cheaper houses and often larger for the money so I beg to differ in my opinion with you.
Although Guildford is a little bit to travel I see this as a better option than travelling hundreds of miles for the families.
Dont take my word for it just look at the property guides on line and watch a bit of tv it will give you an insight into renovation and costs.

You obviously are not aware and there is no reason you should be aware that SSAFA have their own housing department manned by specialists. They are expert in these sorts of project and will not have plucked this particular house out of thin air. It will have been selected as the most cost effective and quickest solution to an immediately pressing problem. We are not privy to all the element s of the decision so we do not know that there are or may be better solutions available.

What we do know is the residents objecting to this proposal, cannot have family fighting overseas, are not in any way shape or form fit to be classed as British and come the revolution cnuts like them should be the first against the wall.

 

[FOMz]

Just got this of the Ashted Residents Association website.....

Headley Court - Daily Mail Article

Some people have read the article published in the Daily Mail of Monday 16th July and expressed their views to this Association.

The article referred to Mr Malcolm Webb as Residents' Association (sic) Chairman. This is not correct. Mr Webb is Chairman of Ashtead Park Estate Management Company Ltd, a company which represents the interests of residents in that part of the village to which this Planning Application refers.

The Ashtead Residents' Association has sympathy with the range of concerns expressed to us as a consequence of this article. Our experience of local residents is that they are proud of the local association with the work undertaken at Headley and are very supportive of our service personnel, their families and their loved ones.

The planning application in relation to 36 Grays Lane has given rise to a range of concerns in the immediate area, which have been included within submissions to Mole Valley District Council as planning objections. We understand however that a high proportion of submissions expressed support for the armed forces and SSAFA.

 

[MrCheeks]

Utterly disgusted........................ At the moment that’s all I can think of.

I’m surprised more of the media haven’t picked up on this yet....... well...... a few have now after a few phone calls and faxes today......

The sad fact of the matter I think is that now knowing the pitiful attitude of many of the residence there, who on earth would wish to stay in an obviously hostile environment even if planning permission is granted.

Bloody hell........ hark at me..... Hostile environment. Many of these poor sods attending Headley Court and their families have already seen enough of what hostility does. Let alone in their own Country where some of the population treat them like lepers.

Wrong wrong and oh so wrong.

 

[Rikster]

Email and snail mail letter sent.
Hope you've all done the same.

check out ARRSE, they are going for it!!

 

[Kiwistacker]

There are no words I can think of in the English language that can describe my utter disgust at these people.

 

[propersplitbrainme]

I used to live in MQs at Headley when I was a kid, and it IS a lovely part of the country, criss-crossed with bridlepaths for the horsey set that lives around there, (Epsom being only a few miles away) and winding leafy lanes, beautiful. I actually imagined that Grays Lane was one of these lanes, winding to a dead end with large houses either side and room for only one car to get along. Er no!
Check out Google Earth at...

51 18' 16.05N
0 17' 36.58W

And see for yourself just how fatuous the claim that the extra traffic will ruin the 'character' of the area actually is. Theres about 50 bloomin houses around there, and I'll wager each has a couple of chelsea tractors parked in the double garage. How the hell is a 6 occupancy residence going to add that much more traffic

 

[Almost_done]

More from the PPRune site.

Reply back from Miss Westphal, 19 Jul, 1246 hrs:
Quote:
Mr Jenvey


Yes very busy - lots of letters of support starting to come in now.


the application will be reported to the Commmittee on 1st August with a recommmendation that permission be refused.

All comments received up until the date of the commttee will be reported at that meeting - those already received being summarised on the report and any received from this date being summarised on the Adddendum Sheet which is circulated to the meeting.


Hope this assists.


Lesley Westphal


Naturally, I have replied asking for reasons!!

Nice to see the democracy we live in working to its best? DT_Xtremez_26:

However I believe the attention thats is starting to get generated may help them actually debate it at the hearing on the 1st August.

 

[FOMz]

I hope so, I've been following Arrse and PPrune closely over this. It would be a travesty if it got refused.

 

[MrCheeks]

Hope no-one minds me posting this but just read the wifes letter:-

Dear Sir,

I am the founder and Director of The Yellow Ribbon Foundation, a tri-service organisation who has worked staunchly, since its conception in March 2003, towards providing both empathic, practical and financial support for the British Armed Forces, their families and the welfare organisations who provide essential services to them.

I have personally been responsible for a considerable amount of money being raised for SSAFA Forces Help, have worked for them as a volunteer and have a huge amount of admiration for the work they do in providing a wide range of services to the Military community – both serving and ex-serving.

In addition to this I have also had the privilege of instigating fundraising for the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, and as part of this I have had the honour of visiting the premises on two seperate occasions; most recently being May of this year where a cheque from our organisation was presented to the Commanding Officer and where we were told of the purchase in Ashtead by SSAFA for the families of the rehabilitating patients at Headley Court.

The news of such a venture has been greeted across the tri-service community with much delight. At present there is no room for any such facility within the grounds of Headley Court due to the nature of the land. This is common knowledge to anyone who has lived even for a short time in the Surrey area, Headley Court being well known thereabouts. The facilities this premises will offer will mean that families will now be able to stay for periods of time to help in the rehabilitation of what I can only describe as humbling injuries. Head trauma patients, amputee patients, burns patients – many of whom have yet to reach the quarter of a century and all of whom are an inspiration to all for the courage and strength they convey to all who have the honour of meeting them.

The objections raised to the use of 36 Grays Lane are both shameful and immature. This is a residence that has previously been a childcare facility – therefore precedence has already been set in the community for it being both a business and a place where there is frequent visitation in vehicles as well as considerable noise.

None of the above, however, are applicable to the use for which SSAFA has outlined for this premises.

Families coming to terms with the injuries their loved one has sustained are hardly in the frame of mind to be planning all-night parties! The families will be coming and going less in one day than the clientele of the Montessori nursery that previously occupied the premises. Likewise peace and quiet are paramount to the requirements of these families and in fact it is more likely for the current residents of the area to be causing noise distress than the other way around.

The families are not criminals, they are not lepers, nor are they incapable of showing due courtesy and respect for their neighbours. They more than anyone will be aware of terrorism for it is in many cases just such an act that has brought their family member to Headley Court.

It would be highly detrimental for the community of Ashtead to reject the application by SSAFA for 36 Grays Lane; because their grounds for objection are clearly discriminatory and verging on the hysteria of inciting hatred against a section of our society. These are unattractive trait for anyone to hold, not least from people who on the one hand claim to have respect for our Armed Forces yet speak of their families as though they are the lowest of the low.

Therefore I hope that you will see beyond the unreasonable and childish objections made by some residents and make the right decision – a decision that will make a monumental difference to thousands upon thousands of lives and that will put Ashtead on the map for being a place of tolerance, friendship and comfort.

Yours faithfully,

Victoria Evans
Director
The Yellow Ribbon Foundation

The more people get on the band wagon with this hopefully the better.

Shame there's no real press coverage of this bloody outrage.

MrC

 

[FOMz]

I wonder why? DT_Xtremez_32:

 

[propersplitbrainme]

MrCheeks,

An absolutely outstanding letter by your good wife which communicates the sentiments behind the issue succintly and tactfully.
A far, far better effort than my feeble effort (posted on Pprune) in which i stupidly referred to the residence as a hostel. DT_Xtremez_06:

 

[FOMz]

E-Petition here