Mother hits out at home protesters
By Rose Taylor on Thursday, 2nd November 2000.
RESIDENTS who objected to a a planned home for people with special needs have come under fire from the mother of a woman who has learning disabilities.
Dawn Rogers, of Stockley Close, Haverhill, has a daughter, Louise, who is now 32 and "lives happily" in a home in Sudbury similar to one proposed for Vange Place, Haverhill.
She said: "They just don't want it in their back yard.
"If the objections had been to Asian or black people moving in, there would have been an outcry about race discrimination.
"People with learning disabilities have the same rights as anyone else."
The application lodged with St Edmundsbury Borough Council by the Papworth Trust charity is for a two-storey, five-bedroom supported housing scheme for four adults with learning disabilities and one who is physically handicapped.
But residents in Chalkstone Estate are fighting the plans because they feel it would be the wrong place for it.
Independent councillor Mabon Dane raised the concerns at a planning meeting of Haverhill Town Council, but they were swept aside by the other members who voted in favour of the proposal.
The issues he raised included fears that the occupants of the new home might be victimised by children, potential congestion from inevitable additional traffic and the loss of open space.
But Mrs Rogers said Coun Dane and the people he was representing at the meeting were simply looking for excuses.
"It makes me so angry. I would rather they had the courage to come out and say that they do not want people with learning disabilities living next to them," she said.
"Their objections stem from ignorance. If the residents knew anything about people with learning disabilities they would know that they are less likely to break into cars, vandalise homes and shout abuse at people."
But objector Jackie Burnett, of Ufford Place, near Vange Place, disagreed.
"I have no objections to learning disabled living here but it is the wrong place for it. A brand new building in a 40-year-old estate is going to look out of place. It will be an eyesore," she said.
"We already have bad parking problems in the area. A new building will make it worse."
She also feared people with learning disabilities would get picked on.
Alan Carter, of the Papworth Trust, said it would be inappropriate for him to comment while the public consultation was in progress.
* Residents will be able to view the plans and raise concerns with representatives of the borough council, social services and the Papworth Trust during a drop-in day on Thursday between 1-7pm at Chalkstone Community Centre.
Dawn Rogers, of Stockley Close, Haverhill, has a daughter, Louise, who is now 32 and "lives happily" in a home in Sudbury similar to one proposed for Vange Place, Haverhill.
She said: "They just don't want it in their back yard.
"If the objections had been to Asian or black people moving in, there would have been an outcry about race discrimination.
"People with learning disabilities have the same rights as anyone else."
The application lodged with St Edmundsbury Borough Council by the Papworth Trust charity is for a two-storey, five-bedroom supported housing scheme for four adults with learning disabilities and one who is physically handicapped.
But residents in Chalkstone Estate are fighting the plans because they feel it would be the wrong place for it.
Independent councillor Mabon Dane raised the concerns at a planning meeting of Haverhill Town Council, but they were swept aside by the other members who voted in favour of the proposal.
The issues he raised included fears that the occupants of the new home might be victimised by children, potential congestion from inevitable additional traffic and the loss of open space.
But Mrs Rogers said Coun Dane and the people he was representing at the meeting were simply looking for excuses.
"It makes me so angry. I would rather they had the courage to come out and say that they do not want people with learning disabilities living next to them," she said.
"Their objections stem from ignorance. If the residents knew anything about people with learning disabilities they would know that they are less likely to break into cars, vandalise homes and shout abuse at people."
But objector Jackie Burnett, of Ufford Place, near Vange Place, disagreed.
"I have no objections to learning disabled living here but it is the wrong place for it. A brand new building in a 40-year-old estate is going to look out of place. It will be an eyesore," she said.
"We already have bad parking problems in the area. A new building will make it worse."
She also feared people with learning disabilities would get picked on.
Alan Carter, of the Papworth Trust, said it would be inappropriate for him to comment while the public consultation was in progress.
* Residents will be able to view the plans and raise concerns with representatives of the borough council, social services and the Papworth Trust during a drop-in day on Thursday between 1-7pm at Chalkstone Community Centre.
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