RESIDENTS of Canons Court are campaigning to prevent younger tenants moving into the court.
Over 30 years ago in 1989 it was agreed by Wiltshire Council that Canons Court would be a development for people aged 55 or over. Despite this legally binding clause, residents of Canons Court say that people “much younger” than 55 to rent properties in the court, with sometimes “disruptive and stressful” consequences for other residents.
And now Canons Court residents are up in arms about a planning application by a ‘Buy to Let’ investor, requesting that the age restriction be removed to make it easier for them to sell or rent their property.
Canons Court resident, Alan Spedding, told Melksham News, “Canons Court was constructed some years ago with a legally binding and unambiguous clause restricting occupancy to people age 55 and over.”
Melksham Town Council discussed the recent application to remove the occupation age restriction obligation at their August economic development and planning meeting. Councillors voted unanimously to object to the application due to the potential impact on surrounding properties.
“This legally binding clause has been the subject of repeated abuse with rental agreements allowing very much younger people into Canons Court – with sometimes very disruptive and stressful consequences for the elderly neighbouring residents,” added Alan Spedding. “Many of my neighbours are in their 80s and 90s. Some are unwell and disabled and have moved to Canons Court expressly seeking peace and quiet and on the clear understanding that the age restriction was to be respected.
“The consequences of the various estate agents feeding younger people into Canons Court have, at times, been severe and disruptive. We now have the new challenge of a ‘Buy-to-Let’ owner applying for planning permission to overturn the over 55 age restriction.
“Needless to say the residents will strongly resist the selfish attempts of this owner (who is not even a resident of Melksham) to impose her selfish agenda on 20-plus residents.
“With an increasingly large proportion of the population defined as ‘elderly’ isn’t it about time someone clamped down and put the estate agents and buy-to-let merchants in their places?”
A decision by Wiltshire Council for the application is expected by Tuesday 6th October.
