Plans aired for future of flats

Officers from Central Bedfordshire Council, which was heavily criticised by villagers for its proposals to close the Crescent Court flats, met with residents at Toddington Village Hall on Wednesday night.

Following a consultation on the future of the flats scheme, the council has now come up with three options – a major refurbishment of the current flats, the development of an ‘extra care’ scheme on the current site to also cater for people with dementia, or an ‘extra care’ scheme on another site in the village.

The latter two options would be developed either by the council or a housing association.

The council’s director of social care, Julie Ogley, said: ““We believe that a change from ‘sheltered housing’ to ‘extra care’ service provision, is one way to take us into the future.

“We know that tenants are very concerned about potential changes to Crescent Court and to help their understanding about what a redeveloped scheme might look like, we have arranged a visit to a local scheme run by a housing association to see what extra care provides. This will also provide an opportunity for them to learn more about housing associations.

“Two of the options could also include consideration of mixed tenure for older people to include renting or purchasing options if a housing association is chosen to develop the sites.”

The public consultation on the proposals runs until December 14 – to have your say telephone 0300 3005662 or visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/crescentcourt