'Sensitive' firm to evict elderly from bedsits

ANGER has erupted after news vulnerable residents in their 80s and 90s are to be "turfed out" of their homes.

The 27 residents at St James Court sheltered accommodation in Wood Street have been told by owners Town and Country Housing Group they are closing the scheme.

Their "little community" will be split up when they are forced to move from their self-contained bedsits.

Resident Mary Coleman, 82, cried when she received a letter confirming the closure.

Mrs Coleman said: "I'm very happy here and I feel safe. If they close us down where are they going to put us?"

Her son Damien told the Courier: "It's like a family there, it's lovely. Sometimes when I have been to visit mum they are singing around the piano.

"If mum was to move out she would lose all that."

Town and Country spokesman Martin Oxley said bedsits such as St James Court, where the residents share shower facilities, were now unpopular.

He said: "St James Court is no longer suitable to meet the needs or expectations of elderly people in Tunbridge Wells.

"It is on two floors but has no lifts and there is very little parking for residents or visitors."

He said Town and Country had considered rebuilding or renovation but these were not suitable options.

"All they need to do is fit showers in each of the individual bathrooms but instead they are going to turf people out," said Mr Coleman.

His mother raises thousands of pounds every year selling poppies for the Royal British Legion.

"My mum is a strong woman but she has got to the point where she just wants to be settled now," said Mr Coleman.

There are also fears the residents could receive less support in their new homes.

The councillor for St James, David Neve, branded the closure "outrageous".

He said: "I can't see where else people are going to be put.

"They could be farmed out to places where they have no local connections."

The St James Court flats are on the same site as the thriving Age Concern day centre, where residents can access care services such as housekeeping, eat a hot meal every day and socialise with each other.

Mr Coleman added: "We wanted mum to live somewhere like this so that she wouldn't have to go into a nursing home. Here she has her independence but if anything happens they will ring us and let us know."

Jean Humphrey, 83, who has lived there for 10 years said: "When I moved here I thought it would be forever, until I passed away. At our age we do not want to be moved around."

In a further blow to the elderly community there are rumours the Age Concern day centre, owned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, could be sold along with St James Court .

However, chief officer at Tunbridge Wells Age Concern Sandra Springett said staff were not aware of any closure plans.

Mr Oxley said Town and Country would work with the residents and their families to discuss where they would like to live.

"We understand that elderly people can find moving traumatic and we will be very sensitive to their needs and feelings," he added.