Hostel 'in the wrong area'

SPARKS flew at meeting to discuss controversial plans to convert a Seaford old people s home into a hostel for single parent families.

The Horizon Housing Group wants to convert Abbots Leigh, at 75 Sutton Road, into a home for six adults and up to 11 children. As a care home for the elderly it does not meet new Government guidelines and has been forced to close.

Neighbours have opposed the plans saying the house would be unsuitable for young children because of its location on the busy A259. Concern was also raised about lack of parking and noise. Thirteen letters of objection were sent to Lewes District Council.

At a district council planning meeting at the Denton Island Training and Business Centre, on Wednesday last week, strong views for and against the bid were voiced.

Christopher Huff, planning consultant for Horizon, said neighbours need not worry about disturbance as residents would cause no more noise than other families. A support worker would be on call 24 hours a day.

The Mayor of Peacehaven, Pauline Howard, was against the proposal. She said: 'It seems we are being asked to literally kick out some elderly residents who have paid their dues and put in a lot of people who have not paid their dues.

'At the risk of being called a snob this is not the area for this kind of resident. She added: 'People either side (of Abbots Leigh) are used to peace and quiet. There will be noise coming from the house of parents shouting at children and noise from visitors.

'We cannot allow this change. It is not a suitable area for this kind of person to live in. This is a better class area.

'Unsuitable

The Mayor of Seaford, Les Whittle, also opposed it. He said: 'I am not prejudiced against this type of use. Each case has to be judged on its merits, but this property and this location is most unsuitable. It is on the busy A259 and it would be very hazardous for children living there. There is very little amenity area and parking is another consideration.

Seaford councillor Gilly Cowdrey hit back in favour of the scheme. She said no elderly people were being made homeless to make way for the young families as the home would be forced to close anyway.

'No one is throwing out a group of old ladies. Whatever happens they will not stay there.

'The property has got to be used for something, otherwise it could become rat infested. You could get squatters. I wonder how many children you would get in there then?

She added: 'I can understand that some of the residents are worried. All of a sudden there will be young families in their midst instead of old people. But they will be living next door to an organisation that controls people well. If there is any trouble at all they will leave immediately.

Peacehaven councillor Allan Byng, who also backed the bid, made the point that the council or neighbours would have no say if a large family moved into the house. He said: 'If it was a single family with 14 children we would have no say about it.

Council planning officers also backed the bid. They accepted some noise and disturbance would be caused by the new families but not enough to make a case for objection on planning terms.

Contrast

Retired teacher Derek Usherwood, who lives next door to Abbots Leigh, told the Express the noise from a lively group of children would be a stark contrast to elderly care home residents who were rarely seen or heard.

He added: 'The objectors are not against single parents, it is the constricted space for any kind of physical activity and the danger of the A259.

'To change from older people to younger people seems a fundamental change.

Councillors voted six to four in favour of the proposal.