300 sign petition against Holbrooks half-way house

300 people have signed a petition against plans to turn a former doctor’s surgery in Coventry into a halfway house.



A planning application has been submitted by foster carer Ann Blakeman who wants to use the empty property in Holbrooks as a residential care unit for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems.

The proposal for a building on the corner of Beake Avenue and Headington Avenue includes creating an additional floor and converting the ground floor to provide bedsits, a staff room, a communal kitchen and a lounge area.

It would cater for up to six people and would see two 24-hour nursing staff from charity Mayday Trust based on site to help the residents become independent.

But neighbours, who have objected to the plans, fear the site could cater for ‘‘drug addicts, ex-convicts and the homeless’’ on their doorsteps.

More than 100 residents vented their anger over the proposals at a meeting held at The Craftsman, in Beake Avenue, on Monday night.

Among them was resident Walter Shufflebotham who lives opposite the site and launched the petition less than two weeks ago.

The 68-year-old said: “I know of residents in Coventry who have sites like this near their homes who have had needles thrown in their gardens – we are going to get the same here.

“The actual site is too small to deal with the training and treatment of people.

“They will be dealing with people from all walks of life and this is an area where there are a lot of schools and elderly people and their safety will be put at risk.”

Harminder Bharj, aged 31, of Headington Avenue, lives next door to the proposed development and raised concerns over the safety of her three-year-old son.

She said: “What if ex-offenders do stay at the property and my son finds needles in our back garden? I won’t feel comfortable letting my child out in case he is put at risk.

“There are so many other children in the area who pass the site to get to school - we don’t want to be living in fear. Parents won’t feel safe sending their children to school - all of that will go out the window. The extra floor will block sunlight- we will see a brick wall instead which is not acceptable.”

A statement by Ann Blakeman said: “I have a passionate belief in the project and I have made a considerable financial and personal commitment to provide what I believe is appropriate and relevant support.

“It is hoped that many clients would progress onto not just independent living but lead to productive lives that will contribute to society.”

Coventry care home plans consultation due with residents

A criminologist has said she hopes to continue setting up a care home for young people with mental health issues in Coventry despite withdrawing plans.

Ann Blakeman, from Leamington Spa, wants to offer 24-hour care for up to five people at a former doctors surgery in Headington Avenue.

But she said she had now decided to consult people in the Keresley area who were angered by the initial proposals.

The plans were due before the city council's planning committee this week.

Ms Blakeman said she believed the property was "suitable" despite the concerns of nearby residents who organised a petition against the project.

'Listen to people'

She said: "In discussion last week with the planning officers and the local councillor, the strength of feeling locally was such that there was an awful lot of misinformation, fears and concerns which I do really need to sit down and listen to and address.

"I do think it's appropriate that I do take time and listen and hear what people have to say.

"It is very important that we work together with the community because part of the project is helping these young individuals integrate and work with the community and get back into society."

Joe Smith, who lives close to the former surgery, said: "It's not just the kind of people, it's the actual site. It's inadequate for this kind of operation.

"Around that area there are a lot of elderly residents and five or six schools in the close vicinity."

Residents fight plans for apartments at former Holbrooks surgery

FRESH plans have been put forward for a former Coventry doctors’ surgery – causing more anger among neighbours.

Criminologist Ann Blakeman caused uproar when she submitted a bid to use an empty property in Holbrooks as a residential care unit for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems.

The proposal was to create an additional floor at the former surgery on the corner of Beake Avenue and Headington Avenue.

Ms Blakeman withdrew her plans after residents mounted a petition and collected almost 900 signatures against the plans.

She told how she planned to meet with people and alleviate their concerns before re-submitting another application.

Now, her brother-in-law, Elliott Starr, has submitted a revised planning application on her behalf for the site which details plans for five private apartments, of which two will be on the ground floor and three on the first floor.

In the planning application, he stated: “The application is to create five residential units for re-sale.

“The owner of the site is Ann Blakeman, my wife’s sister who needs an early return on her investment to re-invest into another property.”

But some neighbours still aren’t happy.

They say there is not enough space on the site for five apartments and fear it could still be used as a halfway house in the future.

Walter Shuffle-Botham, of Beake Avenue, has launched another petition and vowed to continue his legal battle against the latest application.

He said: “There is no room on that site for five apartments even with an extra floor. I’m an ex-builder and the plans are impossible.

"I’ve already got another petition going. We have 15 volunteers who have been helping out.

“We have invited Ann Blakeman to our meetings so she could explain what she was up to. We have raised £1,000 to take legal action if we need to.”

Coun Rachel Lancaster said: “The plot is very small and the proposals of five residents crammed into such a small location looks unlikely to have full compliance for disabled people.”

Council planner Richard Sykes said: “The application is for apartments without care services. The site is not something Ms Blakeman is directly involved in but she does own the property.

“Her brother-in-law is dealing with the possible development of the flats.

“We are in the process of notifying neighbours about the plans and will be writing to everyone who commented on the previous application.”

Protesters angry as plan to turn Coventry GP surgery into apartments is approved

PLANS to convert a Coventry doctors’ surgery into apartments have been approved – despite furious opposition from 1,000 nearby residents.

It means developers will be allowed to add a second floor to the surgery in Headington Avenue, Holbrooks, to create five flats.

The decision was greeted with boos and cries of “shame” from hundreds of angry protesters who packed the planning committee meeting.

Walter Shufflebotham, who lives next door, choked back tears as he begged the planning committee to reject the application.

He told the Telegraph: “It’s a miscarriage of justice – it stinks.

“Everyone is incensed – there is a lot of frustration and anger.”

Developers initially applied for permission to turn the surgery into a half-way house for five people for people with mental health problems and learning difficulties.

The project was withdrawn in the face of huge opposition, but then re-emerged as a plan for five standard apartments.

Neighbours and ward councillors fear the new proposal is simply a tactical step towards creating a half-way house on their doorsteps.

Mr Shufflebotham said: “More than 700 children walk past that building to school every day. I am terrified about their safety.”

He said residents were prepared to buy the building for community use and had already raised more than £2,000, but had been unable to contact the owner.

Four councillors submitted petitions against the plans, totalling more than 1,000 signatures.

Residents sent 84 letters of objection. Their concerns ranged from traffic safety and over-development of the site to the fact that the building was not in keeping with nearby homes and the lack of public consultation.

Coun David Kershaw, who presented one of the petitions, said the owner had repeatedly refused to attend public meetings to talk to residents

He added: “There is a lack of trust – promises have been made and not followed through.

“The community has been let down.”

Planning committee chairman Coun Kevin Maton said developers had no legal duty to consult, though the council encouraged them to.

He backed the plan along with deputy chair Seamus Walsh, but it only scraped through by a single vote after opposition spearheaded by Coun Hazel Sweet.

She said: “ We have got 1,000 residents in the area objecting most strongly to this application.

“I think I would have something wrong between my ears if I didn’t listen to that as a responsible member of this planning committee.”

Owner Ann Blakeman did not attend the planning meeting, citing family illness.

Plans to convert Holbrooks surgery into 'half-way house' abandoned after protests

PLANS to turn a former doctor's surgery at Holbrooks into a half-way house for people with mental health problems and learning difficulties have been abandoned after residents' protests.

More than 1,000 residents joined forces to oppose controversial proposals for a disused surgery in Headington Avenue, Holbrooks.

Today the Telegraph can confirm Coventry estate agents Harrington and Co have agreed a deal to buy the building and turn it into offices.

The news has been welcomed by delighted residents.

Walter Shufflebotham, who spearheaded their campaign, said: “We’ve had three months of hell.

“It feels like a 10 tonne weight has been taken off our shoulders.”

The previous owner of the doctors' surgery applied for permission to turn it into a half-way house for five people with mental health problems and learning difficulties last year.

That plan was withdrawn in the face of overwhelming opposition from the local community, but later re-emerged as a proposal for five new residential apartments.

Neighbours and ward councillors collected four petitions totalling nearly 1,100 signatures and submitted 84 letters of objection.

They raised fears the new plans were a ‘‘tactical step’’ towards creating a halfway house near their homes.

Other concerns included traffic, child safety and the fact the extended building would be taller than neighbouring homes and out of keeping with the local community.

Despite their objections the plans were given the go ahead by the city council’s planning committee.

Yet residents vowed to carry on fighting the proposals.

Mr Shufflebotham, of Headington Avenue, said: “We were prepared to go to the ombudsman and seek a judicial review to get an injunction.”

He said he was delighted the owner Ann Blakeman had agreed to sell to surgery to a business that would put it to a ‘‘more acceptable’’ use.

“A few months ago we put our house up for sale but when we looked round we couldn’t find anywhere else in Coventry like this,” he said.

“This is a very close community – everyone looks out for each other.”

Harrington and Co confirmed it had completed on a deal to buy the building in Headington Avenue.

The firm already has a base in Jubilee Crescent in Radford and is looking to expand into Holbrooks.

Owner Ann Harrington said: “It is a big relief to have completed.

“We are pleased these other plans are not going ahead.

“We are really excited to be opening these new offices.”

Mrs Harrington said she believed the building was quite well suited to the firm’s needs would only require minor internal modifications.

She said hoped the local community would support the new offices.