Sheltered flats meeting agreed

At their meeting last week, Toddington parish councillors voiced concern that the closure of Crescent Court would be a major loss to the people of the village.

Central Beds Council says it is currently reviewing its sheltered housing facilities, including Crescent Court, to assess the ‘suitability and viability’ of the accommodation, inlcuding whether it meets ‘modern mobility standards’.

It is understood the complex needs a new boiler system, which could cost up to £140,000, and that the corridors are not wide enough for wheelchairs to pass each other in.

But parish councillor Tony Lines said he did not think the reasons stacked up.

“If I had a house where the central heating was likely to fail, I wouldn’t knock it down,” he said. “People would think I was crazy, or that I had an ulterior motive.”

Representatives from Central Bedfordshire Council are understood to have met privately with Crescent Court residents on Friday (April 8) to discuss the future of the building.

Councillor Lines said he understood residents were allowed to have a family member with them at the meeting, but not a friend.

He said: “The parish council was of the view that people should have been able to have a friend there. That’s normal when things like this are being resolved.

“It does seem that this is making vulnerable people feel even more vulnerable.”

The public meeting on the future of Crescent Court will take place on May 18, following local elections.

Councillor Lines added: “Crescent Court is an essential part of our community. It would be a big loss to the village were it to close.

“There is an increasing number of elderly people, and there will be no provision in the community for people who have lived in the village all their lives.

“Everyone at the council has expressed great concern about it.”