Residents in eviction row make council plea

A POTENTIAL solution for 130 people who fear being evicted from their retirement homes will be discussed by parish councillors today.

The lives of people living at Lakeminster Park, near Beverley, were thrown into disarray last year when East Riding Council told them they could be in breach of planning conditions.

Many sold their own homes to move into what they thought were permanent homes, but the council said they should only be used for holidays.

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Enforcement action was suspended when the owners submitted a planning application, which would allow people to stay in 73 homes all year round. Today it will be discussed by one of the consultees, Woodmansey Parish Council. Beverley Town Council is not objecting.

A final decision will be made by the council’s planning committee later this year.

Residents have written letters to the council highlighting their personal circumstances and pleading for compassion. Many are elderly and suffering from debilitating ill health. One wrote: “If the planning permission was rejected we would find ourselves in a devastating financial position with no permanent home.”

Another said: “If we lose our property now through no fault of our own, we would have no money to finance another property, we would be homeless and we are simply too old to start up again; indeed I have tried for over a year for employment but with so many out of work I am always up against younger applicants.

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“By giving your approval for full residential living... this would give us peace of mind for the rest of our days.”

Residents Alan Coates and Dave Foulstone, who head the residents group, will be attending today’s meeting. The parish council can decide whether to support or object, but doesn’t have the final say. Mr Coates said: “Obviously I hope East Riding Council sees reason and gives us full residential status. The arguments are overwhelming.”

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