Keeping the Gardens in Belsize

Walking past Belsize Gardens yesterday, I saw that the original sheltered housing has now been demolished but the orchard behind was still intact. Lets see if the developer ensures the trees are protected during the building of the new extra-care facility??

This new facility was heavily promoted by the Lib Dems during the local elections and is actually a good idea (however it's not that new an idea as it will add to the existing facilties in Wandle Valley and Worcester Park), nevertheless we should never forget the way it was developed. Councillor Janet Lowne quite rightly gave a commitment in writing in early 2002 that previous elderly residents could move back to the rebuilt site, but was overturned by her own group on this issue 2 years later.

One of the current lessons is that new Ward Councillors should ask about any future plans for changes to sheltered Council accomodation in their ward. I supported changes to designation in St Helier ward in the last review, but there other areas (Cheam, Carshalton Central, Beddington North) where a loss of sheltered accomodation might be less appropriate.