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Good news: Lionel Cruz, Geraldine Douglas, Peter Denman, Mr Wheeler and Lillian Stein |
ELDERS WIN BATTLE OF BRIDGEFIELD
Victory follows West End Extra’s pressure on behalf of protesters
BAYSWATER residents claimed victory this week in the battle for Bridgefield House.
Housing chiefs on Friday performed a shock U-turn on plans to bulldoze the old people’s home in Queensway.
A letter delivered on Friday to the 20 older residents stated: “You will not be asked to move out of your current home.”
It was signed by CityWest Homes’ chief executive Brian Johnson.
Peter Denman, 69, said: “This is wonderful news. It is such a relief. It shows that sometimes if you put a bit of pressure on people you can win.”
Labour leader Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “The news that the Conservatives have abandoned their madcap proposals to move elderly residents out of Bridgefield House is a great victory. The West End Extra has played a very important part in exposing the hard-hearted and insensitive approach to the needs of older people which should be congratulated.”
The West End Extra revealed a fortnight ago how council officials had deliberately ignored a report from its own consultants to save the block.
Five years later they had claimed it was impossible to save the building.
Rosie Westbrook, the council’s director of housing, said: “The welfare and concerns of our residents are of utmost importance and we have responded accordingly.”
She added that facilities in Bridgefield House remained unsatisfactory and that they would be looked into shortly.
The council in March shutdown Macintosh House in Beaumont Street, Marylebone. They moved 28 vulnerable elderly residents out of block so they could close the building. Cllr Dimoldenberg added: “There is still time for the council to reverse its decision to close Macintosh House. The elderly residents who remain in Macintosh House desperately want to stay and, now that Bridgefield House has been saved, surely it is common sense to review the Macintosh House decision?” |
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