7:30am Monday 6th September 2010
By Omar Oakes
A New Malden woman has accused Age Concern Kingston of hypocrisy, after claiming her complaints about wartime songs being blared out on public address system have been ignored because she is “too young”.
Suzanne Sutherland, who lives next to Age Concern’s headquarters in Raleigh House, Nelson Road, said she was suffering the consequences of Kingston Council’s failure to enforce the centre’s breach of planning laws.
The 49-year-old, who is confined to her home after doctors diagnosed Parkinson’s disease nine years ago, said the charity had ignored her complaints about noise and overhanging trees.
Ms Sutherland said: “I’m discriminated against because I’m too young. Ironically, I have the same conditions many older people have.
“They don’t practise what they preach. If you ever try to raise any problem they say they can’t comment and will investigate. They go into legal mode.
“I raised the fact they have a Tannoy system which they use to give lectures and sing wartime songs.
“If they are allowed to do that I will put Planet Rock on the other side because frankly I don’t think it’s acceptable.”
Age UK, formed by a merger of the national Age Concern charity and Help the Aged, published a leaflet last October, advising people how to deal antisocial behaviour, which it said could include “loud noise from neighbours” and “an overgrown garden”.
A Kingston Council enforcement officer visited the premises last week and confirmed that Age Concern had breached their planning consent given in 1988, but that nothing could be done because the enforcement period of 10 years had expired.
By law, the Raleigh House site was only allowed to operate as an old people’s day centre and residential accommodation, but now the top two floors are also used as offices.
Ann Bren, business manager of Age Concern, would not comment on the specific concerns raised by Mrs Sutherland, and said it was a private matter.
Mrs Bren said: “Older people’s needs and issues are frequently marginalised by the media. The cuts in public spending which will hit local authority budgets next year will undoubtedly have a big impact on older people and are likely to impact on the kinds of services we provide. This is the real story.”
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