Letters: New plan but same old ideas for former Lymington police station
SIR – I was dismayed to learn that Churchill developers have decided to resubmit their application for the old police station site (A&T, 30th December), despite it being rejected by New Forest District Council and following a public inquiry.
This application does nothing to address the aims of the Local Plan to provide a range of housing for different groups within the community.
Lymington and Pennington has ample designated housing for older people and does not need any more.
The fact that there are multiple units of the type proposed already on the market, in addition to more under construction, is evidence of this.
The over-provision of such properties is more than adequate for the needs of the local ageing population and has the effect of drawing in older people from outside the area, which in turn puts pressure on our GP surgeries and hospital.
There is a problem with recruitment of staff at the local hospital because of the lack of affordable housing for working age people.
Affordable housing is the type that is urgently required in the area, and encouraging more people of working age to live here will benefit the local economy.
The old police station site would, I believe, be an appropriate location for this type of housing.
Allowing further surplus designated housing for older people would primarily benefit the developer and would ignore the wishes and needs of the local residents.
Our elected councillors should be listening to the concerns of their electorate rather then bowing to pressure from developers.
Bronwen Bridges,
Lymington
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SIR – It seems that Churchill Retirement Living thinks it can bully the community in Lymington into accepting their plan for 32 unneeded and unwanted retirement flats on the old police station site (A&T, 30th December).
As was so eloquently explained by your correspondent Tom McEwen (Letters, 30th December), we need housing for the young and those in essential but poorly paid jobs, such as nurses and carers, if we are to live in balanced, healthy communities.
The New Forest District Council Local Plan needs revision to make this clear.
Sue Seymour,
Lymington
