Final plea from Kingston pensioner over closure of sheltered housing (From Your Local Guardian)

Final plea from Kingston pensioner over closure of sheltered housing

9:00am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Kingston By David Lindsell

L-R) Bruce Parker, Eamon Collender and Albert Tracey.

A vulnerable pensioner has made a last minute plea for Kingston Council to halt plans to close a communal block of sheltered housing flats.

Executive councillors are due to decide tonight whether to close sheltered housing at Waters Square in Norbiton.

Kingston Council wants to turn the site into 23 flats and houses homes to make a small dent in the council waiting list.

Its 16 vulnerable residents had an anxious Christmas as they waited to discover if they will be moved out.

Eamon Collender, 69, a former barrister, said he hoped councillors would at least put it on hold.

He said: “It will be devastating. Three from here won’t survive at all. It will be three months and they will be gone.

“I hope to be at the meeting. We will have as many as possible there.”

Executive member for housing councillor Frances Moseley has told residents they would be supported to find new homes if Waters Square was closed.

Kingston Council says there are too many council-owned sheltered homes in the borough and that Waters Square, which is now half-empty, is rundown and in poor condition.

To find out the decision visit this site on Friday morning.