Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
21 October 2009
19:5931136#1
Today i had the pleasure of looking over this new facility .An extra care scheme which has replaced the out of date Roly Eckhoff sheltered scheme .
It is truly marvellous .Well appointed with so many extra facilities .Gym,hairdressers ,shop,and a canteen where residents can purchase a meal for £1.75 .A laundry and a parking bay for scooters .
All the flats one or two bedroomed fitted with Sky TV outlet ,well appointed kitchens and bathrooms .For those elderly tenants who have had to move out of DDC outdated accomodation these apartments are well deserved .
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
22 October 2009
07:1631154#2
That must be great news for new residents there.
I know from personal experience (I've visited them, not lived in them) that the accommodation at William Muge House off of Maison Dieu Road, are an absolute disgrace, so it's good to see proper accommodation with proper facilities, being built for older people.
Roger
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
22 October 2009
18:2331192#3
Yes sue had great pleasure myself looking around the New Buckland court with all its new facilities, which are also open to the wider community.
Some 40 one to two bedroom flats available and staff around 24hrs so yes who ever is lucky enough will be living in very plesant surroundings, was very impressed with the whole building.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
23 October 2009
11:1231282#4
A quality scheme for sure, but with a weekly rent of £200 per week, the only people able to afford to live there, are those on benefits.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
23 October 2009
12:0631289#5
no wonder they are state of the art.
200 quid a week??????
this is going to cut out the people with a smallish pension that cannot claim any help surely?
i can see what will happen here, people will transfer savings to a family member, then claim benefit and a nice new flat.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
23 October 2009
18:0531315#6
I think your last two sentences have it Howard.
Roger
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
27 October 2009
15:4131721#7
Roger are you sure the rent is £200. per week? This gives a whole new dimension to social housing. What can they be offering that Dover Municipal Charities aren't already doing incredibly well at Battle of Britain flats for considerably less.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
27 October 2009
15:4331722#8
Ken
I don't know the ins and outs, but Barton court has a Gym, spa, and other facilities probably that Battle of Britain doesnt, but im not defending either
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
27 October 2009
18:0331752#9
are we mixing up 2 places here, barton and buckland court?
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
28 October 2009
14:1331815#10
Keith. I am even more mystified now. So a social housing project that was deemed (and was not) suitable for it's purpose ie for the elder residents of the District has been replaced with some thing very few of it's former residents could afford even with the help of state aid, and with facilities akin to a private hotel.
So to summise Keith, the District elderly have lost (or they must share with others), non elderly accomodation no matter how inadequate at 2 sites in Harold Street, Goshen Road and ajoining roads and 2 buildings in Aylesham plus I believe some in Ash. The only new build I can think of is Sunny Corner which is a legacy of the previous administration.
Is the current administration abbregating it's responsibility to the elderly in terms of housing in the hope that the private sector or Housing Associations will take up the responsibility?
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
28 October 2009
16:2231828#11
In the not to distant past, DDC were approached and asked to give up 4 parking spaces in Albany Place car park to enable Dover Municipal Charities to build an extension to Albany House. DDC declined quite rightly on the grounds that parking would be at a premium once the DTIZ was built.
Now that the hospital is not in all probability to be built on Maison Dieu car park, perhaps the land designated for relacement parking ie the former elderly persons homes in Harold St, could be offered to the charity to enable them to build homes for the elderly.
28 October 2009
16:5431831#12
I bet the new residents of Buckland Court will have proper tenant participation and empowerment, unlike the current DDC tenants. The lovely old people at Sunny Corner were told several months ago by notices plastered all over the place that there would be no more tenant meetings and that there would just be a DDC newsletter. Wither democracy! or is it 'whither'.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 October 2009
17:5831833#13
why did they cancel the tenants meetings keith?
is it just a cost cutting exercise,or is there more to it?
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
28 October 2009
18:1631838#14
HOWARD
Soz oh mighty one, it is of course Buckand.
KEN
I dont hAVE THE details of the ins and outs of the place or come to that the ins and outs of the secret society (municipal charities)
As im out of the poliitical arena for ever you will have to ask your best buddy Paul w.
When's our bacon sarny?
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
28 October 2009
18:2031839#15
With regards to tennants meetings, that is a great tragic event if sunny corner doesnt get to go to meetings, but i do wonder if they wanted to in the first place?
Don't know the full details so rfealy can't comment further
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
29 October 2009
10:2731898#16
To answer a few questions .The weekly rent for one bed £108-37 two bed £120-64
Housing benefit eligible .
There are additional costs where there is no benefit elegibilty ie service charge ,meals ,gas,water.which adds up to £190-84.People in the private sector have to pay for gas ,electricity,water etc .To have windows cleaned etc .So when the costs are broken down not so over the top.
Where would you get a three course meal for £1-75?
Yes this is the way that Sheltered Housing will be provided .Housing Associations can apply for loans The Extra Care is also the in thing .
Im not sure what Ken was referring to .DDC still have a lot of sheltered schemes .Reece Adams was not mentioned .Norman Taylioy,Lambert House at Deal Serveral at Sandwich ..
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
29 October 2009
10:5031901#17
Sue. You would still have access to certain figures. How many housing units specific to the elderly in Dover District were there in 2002 and how many are there now?
Keith. I do have the ins and outs of the charity and it always suprises me that they are so reticent to give themselves a higher profile. They could make an immense difference to the housing sector with regard to the elderly(which is supposed to be their remit)with a little bit of public nudging.
For the 10 years I have been aware of the charity the line as repeated by Sue and Roger has not changed.
In defence of the charity, they are wonderful landlords to their current tenants, I just wish they would get their finger out and provide more.
29 October 2009
11:3031902#18
Howard. Firstly I logged in to the wrong section so have messed up the 'hospital' thread. Sorry! In reply to your query, I really don't know why but my feeling is that it is all part of the 'treat the electorate like mushrooms' policy of DDC. As you know I live at St. Monica's. My rent card says is it sheltered housing but we too have no meetings and are told nothing. Hopefully the new portfolio holder holder for housing will improve matters but I'm not holding my breath!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
29 October 2009
12:2931903#19
no problem with the other post keith, now deleted.
st monicas not sheltered housing?
that surprises me, the majority of the residents are old and/or infirm.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
29 October 2009
13:1431906#20
I have spoken to the Housing Services Manager and have been informed that no such notices have been placed in Sunny Corner and the warden activly encourages meetings with the residents .Perhaps anyone who visits there can speak with the Warden .
St Monicas is not classed as Shelterd Accomodation .The residents have a Housing officer who can be called upon .The accomodation is more suited for people of a certain age but does not have the facilities usually applied to Sheltered Housing .All DDC tenants are encouraged to attend meetings of their area groups .Each group has a designated Chairman ,secretary etc and three froom each group attend regular meetings of The District Tenants Group
Officers ,Portfolio Holder and Shadow Portfolio attend thes meetings .
There is a regular Tenants news Letter "Close to Home "
The people I represent here in River and Alkham do not have such amenties and have to sort out their problems themseves .I doubt if any of these will qualify for Buckland Court and probably end up paying for A Mccarthy Stone place at Folkestone or Deal