Pewsey
| CHEMICAL THREAT |  | | | CASH BOOST | | | | CRIMESTOPPERS FAMILY FUN DAY | | | | MONEY STOLEN | | | | PICTURE GALLERY | | |
|
|
|
Bedsits are bulldozed
DEMOLITION work has started on Aston House, Pewsey, a former block of bed-sits built in the 1960s.
The decision to knock the building down was controversial because it meant some people lost the homes they had lived in for several decades.
Sarsen Housing Association, however, which took over running Aston House from Kennet District Council, decided the accommodation was now outmoded and unsuitable, and had to go.
It now wants to build 32 new homes.
They will include 24 extra-care apartments and one bungalow, and seven houses for local people either for rent or for shared ownership.
Sarsen spokesman Philip Mackie said: "Most of the residents who lived at Aston House over the years were very happy there.
"However, the longer it is kept going, the more difficult it became to let the vacant rooms.
"In the last few years there have been more empty than occupied bed-sits at Aston House."
He said the extra-care apartments, a mix of two and three bedroom units, met modern care standards.
"Some people do not want to stay in their own homes and they want to live independently but in the knowledge that help is there if they need it."
He said the extra-care apartments would have on-call care 24 hours a day all year round.
But Mr Mackie said the new scheme on the Aston House site would be for the benefit of the village.
"These will be Pewsey homes for Pewsey people," he said.
Although demolition work is in progress, the £5 million rebuild is not expected to be completed and ready for occupation until the New Year 2009.
10:23am Thursday 6th December 2007
Print 
Email this 
Comment
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
