Stop Savoy Place Fighting Fund-Reform UK Aldershot Group

As a community group, the Reform UK Aldershot Constituency Branch, with friends and community leaders, the Rushmoor People First and other groups, we are launching a legal case and injunction to stop the migrant-only housing project at the Ham & Blackbird roundabout, Savoy Place, Farnborough.

With the support of the law firm Burlingtons we are seeking to stop the proposed development and change of use of the apartment block, close to Farnborough Railway Station.

To do this we are asking for at least a £10 donation from 1,000 concerned people in our community, or £50 or more if your circumstances allow. No consultation, no support.

We already have 200 registered homeless people in Rushmoor and 1,700 people on the social housing waiting list. This housing resource is being denied to them.

There are already two large migrant housing blocks in the immediate neighbourhood. The community is against this development, which consists of East African (mostly Somalian) single males and families who are already registered homeless in Newham, which is the London borough with the second-highest crime rate. Many of them have special educational needs and will place an unfair burden on our schools, doctors and social services. They have limited English speaking ability which will add to the strain on local services. They are recently-approved asylum seekers, already living in London.

91% of people recently polled were against the similar Pinehurst Hill Side flats development.

Location Concerns

There are concerns about the adequacy of the accommodation for families, regarding the lack of outdoor space, proximity to busy roads (being on a roundabout), and overall safety. This site is not suitable for children to live in.

Strain on Local Services

Placing peiople from outside our area into Savoy Place will put additional stress on essential local services such as schools, healthcare facilities, and social services. The increased demand could lead to resource shortages and reduced quality of service for both the new residents and existing community.

People relocated to this area may find themselves isolated from established support networks and community resources. They will place an additional burden on already stretched local resources without any additional funding. It is competely unsuitable.

Local Property Concerns

The concerns regarding the long-term marketability of the shared ownership properties when adjacent to migrant accommodation will affect property values in the scheme. It will also cause tension within the scheme with existing owners living close to a transient population. In similar cases exsting owners lost 25% of the value of their properties.

The workings of the Section 106 agreement need to be legally exposed. It is likely that the developer's obligations under the planning consent are not being adhered to.

Unfair Burden on the Community

Rushmoor is already hosting two asylum accommodation units in the area, with a third (fourth) also believed to be under development at the Brewer's Fayre site in Aldershot.

Homeless people living at Savoy Place will place additional demands on the housing team in Rushmoor council, not having a local connection or by achieving a local connection through work or special circumstances.

And finally, these properties will not be available for local people when the demand for housing in our area is already hugely significant. GP appointments, school places and other local resources are already stretched to breaking point.

Please let's come together and protect our community!

Trevor Lloyd-Jones

Former Candidate, Chairman, Reform UK, Aldershot Constituency, on behalf of the Reform UK Aldershot Branch.