Pensioners' Battle to Stay in Warsash Chalets all year Round

THEY just want to stay in the homes they have lived in for years.

A group of Hampshire pensioners fear they could be forced out of their scenic seafront chalets for two months every winter. The elderly residents of some permanent homes at Solent Breezes, Warsash, are today due to find out if councillors want to reinvoke rules saying they cannot live at the park all year round. Last year, occupants of six of the brick-built bungalows were given certificates of lawfulness, entitling them to stay in the houses permanently, after they proved they had already done so for ten years.

They need the permission because under a legal agreement dating back to 1966, the site is not meant to be constantly occupied. One resident and member of the chalet owners’ association Marilyn Norman said: “The certificate came last March with a letter saying congratulations – you can live here legally for the rest of your lives. “Now they’re saying this means we have to get out of our home from January to March, it just seems crazy.
“We’ve been here nearly 12 years. We’ve lived here all that time without moving off and without any problems. “They knew we were here because we were asked if we wanted to pay the holiday or full rate of council tax. We’ve been paying the full amount since we moved in.  “They said we could move into the other homes on the site with permission for permanent occupancy, but it’s not that easy. “Most of us are pensioners, and my partner is disabled through polio.”
Fareham Borough Council’s planning development control committee was today due to debate whether to grant the houses the right to permanent residents, rather than the individuals’ rights granted by the certificates. But members could decide to review whether the homes should return to part-time occupancy. The residents are also upset they have had just days to prepare their case, only finding out about today’s meeting when letters dropped through their doors on Friday. No one from Fareham Borough Council was available to comment last night. Officers are recommending committee members reject the residents’ requests for deeds of release.

Article found in the Daily Echo on Wednesday 21st January 2009

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