Firgrove Court, is a small estate of 28 maisonettes arranged around a grassy green, on the edge of Farnborough town centre. A prime development location.

Almost ten years ago, KPI (a Kuwaiti-financed front company of property developer St Modwen) bought Farnborough town centre. With the help of the local council, the Rotten Borough of Rushmoor, KPI has trashed the town centre, driving out retailers. The town centre lies derelict, a ghost town, shops empty and boarded up, flats above the shops empty and boarded up. A couple of years ago, planning consent was granted for demolition of the northern half of the town centre for a superstore which will face out of the town. Firgrove Court is earmarked for demolition for the car park for the superstore.

For several years, Pavilion has been trying to drive out its tenants so that it can sell the land to KPI. No strong arm stuff (not yet), just misinformation and leaving the properties in a serious state of disrepair. Most of the tenants have gone, leaving their homes boarded up. Pavilion has ripped out kitchens and bathrooms and boilers to render the empty properties uninhabitable, many of which have now been empty for some years. Only a handful of tenants now remain.

One of the remaining tenants is Janice Asker, a plucky disabled lady who is determined not to be kicked out of her home.

I learnt early this week from her husband Derek Asker, now in his 70s and living in a residential home, that Janice Asker has been told, that if she does not leave now, she will will lose housing points should she choose to move at a later date. She has also been told that the transfer list, should she wish to relocate to another area or housing association, has been closed.

Last year, Janice Asker had her benefits stopped.

All of which adds stress to a lady who has enough already coping with her disabilities.

The council is aware of what Pavilion is doing, and not only turns a blind eye to what is happening, but actually condones it. As it does with the empty property in the town centre. On the other hand, it were only too happy to serve a CPO on an empty bungalow that a retired man was renovating as his retirement home.

At a recent Council meeting, Councillor David Clifford, whose ward includes the town centre, tried to ask question about the town centre, only to be shouted down, told to shut up and sit down.

In Aldershot, Pavilion tenants who live in a maisonettes in a very poor state of repair, have now learnt their homes are contaminated with asbestos.

Following a damning report of Pavilion by the Audit Commission, Pavilion was acquired by Eastleigh-based Atlantic Housing Association, and the group renamed First Wessex. Tenants say that following a brief honeymoon period when there were improvements, it is now worse that it was under Pavilion. First Wessex is now trying to acquire housing stock in Portsmouth

websites

 http://www.heureka.clara.net/surrey-hants/
 http://www.thetruthinrushmoor.co.uk/

references

Homes to stay empty until town centre redevelopment, Farnborough Mail, 5 December 2006
 http://www.farnborough.co.uk/news/2005/2005925/homes_to_stay_empty_until_town_centre_redevelopment

Mike Lane, The Regeneration Game, November 2006 {DVD}

Keith Parkins, Tragedy of Firgrove Court, Indymedia UK, 30 January 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/332594.html

Keith Parkins, Public Inquiry into road closures in Farnborough town centre, Indymedia UK, 30 January 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/332595.html

Keith Parkins, Curitiba – Designing a sustainable city, April 2006
 http://www.heureka.clara.net/gaia/curitiba.htm

Keith Parkins, First Wessex plan takeover of Portsmouth housing, Indymedia UK, 12 September 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/09/350606.html

Keith Parkins, Big business to decide future of town centre, Indymedia UK, 30 October 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354742.html

Keith Parkins, Empty property in Farnborough town centre, Indymedia UK, 27 November 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/357115.html?c=on

Keith Parkins, Dodgy land deals in Farnborough town centre?, Indymedia UK, 12 December 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358511.html

Keith Parkins, Council attempts to seize retirement home, Indymedia UK, 19 December 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358583.html

Keith Parkins, Council's attempt to seize man's home thwarted, Indymedia UK, 23 December 2006
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358724.html?c=on

Keith Parkins, Town centres – a tale of two councils, Indymedia UK, 12 January 2007
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/359825.html?c=on

Keith Parkins, Pavilion maisonettes contaminated with asbestos, Indymedia UK, 28 February 2007