insideKENT Magazine Issue 69 - December 2017 | Page 165

NEWS
NEW TONBRIDGE EXTRA CARE SCHEME
REACHES MILESTONE
As its spring 2018 completion date approaches, the charity’s new Tudeley Lane extra
care housing scheme reached a key milestone in the development, as the highest
point of the structure was completed in November. Representatives of The Abbeyfield
Kent Society and contractors, Jenner, came together to mark the key milestone and
place a final tile on the roof.
SOUTH EAST RESIDENTS
URGED TO BE WINTER READY AS
RESEARCH REVEALS PUBLIC IS
NOT PREPARED
Gas distribution company SGN is supporting a new
campaign urging people to be prepared for bad
weather this winter and to know what to do if they
have a power cut or gas emergency.
Once complete, Rosewell House will comprise 59 one and two bedroom apartments,
alongside an excellent range of communal facilities for over 55s with a care and/or
support need. The apartments will be available on an affordable rent basis, through
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and to purchase through Older Persons
Shared Ownership (OPSO). The show flat
will be ready to view from January and apartments can be purchased off plan.
Leon Steer, chief executive of the Society commented: “We are currently amidst a
substantial development programme, which will see several extra care housing schemes
being built across the county. Our current scheme in Gravesend, Watling Court, is
hugely successful and has changed the lives of many of our residents for the better,
thus, it is our hope that our new schemes will enjoy similar success.”
Extra care housing is designed to enable over 55s with care and/or support needs to
live independently in their own (rented or purchased) homes, with an emphasis on
communal facilities and embracing a sociable environment.
The launch comes as it’s revealed nearly a quarter
(24%) of people in the South East admit they aren’t
prepared for winter weather as colder conditions
roll in.
The figures have been released to coincide with
Be Winter Ready Day – a new initiative run by SGN
and the country’s other electricity and gas networks,
which aims to help the public be better prepared
if they have a power cut or gas emergency this
winter. The initiative has been co-ordinated by the
Energy Networks Association (ENA).
The survey found that well over half (57%) of people
in the South East think the reliability of the gas and
electricity networks means they don’t have to
prepare for winter as much as they used to.
Elsewhere, 48% don’t keep a torch in their house
in case of a power cut, and 68% don’t take steps to
get their boiler serviced in advance of winter.
Furthermore, 72% of South East residents don’t
know who their local gas or electricity network
operators are, with only 18% saying they prepare
themselves for winter by finding out who to contact
if their gas or electricity goes off.
The energy networks are calling on people
in the region to follow these three steps to Be
Winter Ready:
• Know your free emergency numbers – in a
power cut dial 105 or, for a gas emergency, dial
0800 111 999.
• Prepare your home – keep a torch handy and get
your appliances serviced by a Gas Safe registered
engineer to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Vulnerable households can get extra support by
signing up to the Priority Services Register. You
can find their contact details on your energy bill.
Visit www.energynetworks.org to find out who
your network operator is.
• Keep your eyes open – keep an eye on the weather
forecast and, if you have a power cut or a gas
emergency, check on your neighbours.
For more information about the campaign,
visit www.energynetworks.org and search ‘Be
Winter Ready’.
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