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Thursday 26 May 2016

Knowle relocation project >>> PegasusLife planning application >>> There are 'some things that are not quite how they have been made public'.

The plans for Knowle have been published:

With helpful input from the Save Or Sidmouth campaign: 

PegasusLife have made their Planning Application for the Knowle. 
The reference, to be quoted in any correspondence, is 16/0872/MFUL. 
The return date for comments and objections at the moment is 15th June.


Comments on the Streetlife social networking site note the discrepancies between the PR blurb and the details of the application:

Knowle and Pegasus plans

Mary W-T  in Sidmouth
 
I've just started looking through the online plans and have already found.

The inpression created, for me at least, was that the well-being facilities and restaurant would be open to non-residents. It is not quite as open as all that.

Visitors can use the restaurant, and I assume that means people who are visiting those living there as it clearly defines another category of people who can use the well-being facilities as Non-Residents.

Non-Residents are people living in Sidmouth and who are over 60 years of age, with priority give to those whose property borders the Knowle.

This only runs for 3 years from the time they achieve 50% occupation of the site.

Don't be misled into thinking that they will be providing some sort of resource for the town.

Oh, and they say they expect to employ 14.5 people in total. If that covers the restaurant, well-being facilities, cleaners, gardeners and care assistant/nurses as well as management it doesn't bode well for high standards in anything.
    Polarising Plebeian
    Has ever any property developer been honest about their real intentions? Would you expect that the community can actually influence any of their plans?
    Is there really a clause stating an age restriction? Why is that not considered age discrimination?
    Peter S
    Mary W-T

    It says that the decision of membership of the wellbeing facilities after 3 years, will be for the management committee (Residents)
    The restaurant and wellbeing will have to be provided on a non profit case run by the Management Committee, so it would be in there best interests to have it continue to be open for other Sidmouth Residents.
    On the Jobs the way I read it was that the 14.5 will be directly employed, but there is the provision by an outside company (jobs) to provide care packages for the residents, there will be others including tradesmen / women, so at the moment until we know more, it will be guess work to provide an exact number.

    PP
    Yes you can have an age restriction where you are providing housing, and it is including in the application.
    The public have all ready influenced the plans this is there second application submitted after public meetings showed that very few liked the original.
    Mary W-T
    It also says that the paths can be used by Non-residents, again the meaning is those over 60!

    I have not read that the management will be residents, it doesn't specify so far as I have read.

    The jobs/employment provided is quite clear, I suppose they can't cover things like people employing mobile hairdressers but what they intend to provide themselves is 14.5.

    How can being non-profit make it in their best interest to attract extra business?

    Although you can have a clause limiting the age of those residing there I don't believe it is legal to discriminate on the grounds of age about who can use facilities or paths.
    hibou
    PS - You say, regarding the jobs to be provided at Knowle, "so at the moment until we know more, it will be guess work to provide an exact number". Do you think it's right that we wait until the planning application is determined before we gain this information? Surely, this is the sort of information which is required now in order for us to make an informed decision.
    Liz S
    The residents will be buying in their own personal and social care from their own resources. Those 14.5 people will be in such jobs as a development manager (and possibly assistant), catering and waiting staff in the restaurant, gym equipment maintenance, pool cleaner, gardening, cleaning common parts, etc. They will have to hope that there are enough people around Sidmouth to satisfy their needs.
    Peter S
    Hibou

    How are we to know what each resident requires, whether it is social, medical or individual needs, like hairdressing, podiatry, some may require grocery, cooked meals etc.
    You do not need to know exactly how many but anyone could manage to approximate the figure.
    Mary W-T
    As I said Liz, 14.5 employees will mean they are thinly spread.

    If they are running a restaurant for 115 residents + visitors then that alone will need a fair number of staff if they are covering all three meals per day. Or perhaps they don't expect it to be used much?

    Peter you say ' anyone could manage to approximate the figure' so could you give me your estimate please? I find myself at a loss to do so as I can't work out what percentage of able-bodied and needing-care they are aiming for. Thank you.
    Liz S
    It doesn't matter what they need Mary - whatever the level of disability, illness, etc PegasusLife will be providing no care whatsoever - even the meals in the restaurant, hairdressing etc will all be paid for as extras, not out of the service charge. I had a rich aunt who lived in a similar sort of place - boy, did she need a lot of money to do so. The trouble started when she got dementia and walked around the development in a daze day and night - management and other residents wanted her out pronto - spoiled the ambience of the place!

    Residents in these types of developments are responsible for sorting all that side of things out for themselves - or relatives doing it. They will have to buy in private care from local private agencies (or they may get NHS or Social Services free non-means-tested help - even though most of them will have very deep pockets after shelling out £300-400,000 plus for a 1 bed apartment and minimum £3,000-5,000 plus service charges).

    It may lead to an increase in agency care firms in Sidmouth, so more low-level, low-paid caring jobs. That won't replace the better jobs lost by council relocation and where are these low-paid workers going to live?

    They WILL be an extra burden on local GPs for sure.
    Polarising Plebeian
    I don't think this is in any way a care home or anything like it. It is exclusive, and very expensive, accommodation for people over 60. Fits well to the many other developments of this company, which can easily be seen on their website. Go on, have a look.
    Liz S
    The theme is how many jobs will it create - answer, not many and mostly low paid.
    Mary W-T
    Thanks Liz for that information. My only experience of such things was with my Mother in Law who was in warden controlled accomodation. Not the same thing at all although equally very expensive!
    Polarising Plebeian
    In the management company the developer always holds 51%, this means that the residents with their 49% have absolutely no powers.
    And the definition of non-residents is indeed remarkable: You have to be over 60.
    For those who want read more: The planning application can be found under 16/0872/MFUL
    Mary W-T
    Thanks for that Jackie but I couldn't get the pictures to enlarge, is it me or a fault?
    Polarising Plebeian
    The pictures are simply not big enough. Contact the blog operator to ask for bigger ones. A contact emails address is shown on the blog.



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