Calling all Steyning residents!

Following widespread outcry at the proposed closure of Britton’s Croft care home, Steyning Parish Council urges all residents to complete this month’s Housing Needs Survey to help prevent closure and act as “the backbone of future housing decisions”.

Steyning Parish Council recently met with care home owners, Saxon Weald, to express its deep concern about plans to close Britton’s Croft, the town’s extra-care facility for older people, and propose ideas for a re-build to cater for the needs of local Steyning residents.

Accepting that improvements to Britton’s Croft might be necessary, Parish Council chairman, David Barling, stressed that the cost of closure in human terms was unacceptable. “The 35 residents are very frightened about their future. The residents have family and friends in the area and want to stay in Steyning. If they are moved some distance away many of them will not be able to keep in touch with family and friends. They are local people and want to remain in the local area.”

In October Steyning Parish Council is running a Housing Needs Survey to establish current and future housing requirements in the town. Questionnaires will be delivered to ever household and residents are urged to take the time to complete the survey so that a true and representative assessment can be made of Steyning’s housing needs.

“The importance of this survey cannot be underestimated,” said Barling. “The results of the questionnaire - which includes a special section on the needs of older people - will provide document evidence of housing requirements and will form the basis of future discussions on both extra-care and affordable housing provision. It’s vital that as many residents as possible complete the survey to provide an accurate and fair picture.

”Discussions between Saxon Weald, District and County Council representatives also took place in September and district councillor, Sue Rogers, reports that HDC is very supportive of the town’s position and wished to “explore extra-care in Steyning, starting with the existing site at Britton’s Croft.” Rogers also stressed the need to provide “ as much good data as possible” to support an extra-care facility and future affordable housing needs.

Liz Trundle07906 159754

For more information about the Housing Needs Survey – or if you are a Steyning, Upper Beeding or Bramber resident and do not receive a copy - then please contact Sue Booth, SPC Clerk, on: 01903 812042 or email: spcclerk@btconnect.com

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