Friday 5 February 2016

Coming together to say goodbye.......


As I've mentioned many times, we live in a great Close of just 27 houses and between us we all know each other with most of us knowing most residents because they've/we've lived here a very long time. Hubby and I moved in when the house was just 4 years old and that was 33 years ago! We have a strong sense of community.

A neighbour sadly died on new year's day and today was his funeral. 15 neighbours attended which made up nearly half the congregation! Giving love, support and offers of help to his widow........I always feel grateful for living here!
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4 comments:

Michelle said...

That is sad - but lovely you all support each other. Following on from the community feel which adds to your enjoyment of where you live, there was an article in the local paper about how the increase in multiple occupancy dwellings has taken away the community feeling the estate once had. Planning permission no longer required to convert a family home into multiple occupancy dwelling so a lot in one area. Also the parking issue. Over 50% HMO in an area on a development originally only family homes.

http://www.thecomet.net/news/people_are_moving_out_concern_over_growing_number_of_bedsits_in_stevenage_s_great_ashby_area_1_4403252

MumB / @mumbosh said...

Parking can be a big problem at the best of times. Bedsits are usually short term housing so the constant changeover is never going to encourage community spirit, shame isn't it :-(

Michelle said...

I think it's a huge shame that could be avoided by a bit of planning consent being put back in. Though where I think the people who live in HMO's can live I don't know. Car parking always an issue. I can't remember 100% but I think the planners want 1.5 parking spaces per family home. Here in town about ten years ago they built flats with no parking as they said it was a town centre development with buses and want to discourage car ownership. Which was proved to be bonkers. The more recently built blocks (mostly retirement flats) do have underground parking incorporated into the plans so that is better. Lots and lots of flats, but maybe we should build purpose built studio flats. I dunno wish I had answers.

MumB / @mumbosh said...

In this family home we had 4 cars and 3 motorbikes at one time, thankfully we have private parking, nightmare if we'd lived mid-terrace eh? The saddest thing is if you did have the answer it's unlikely you'd get town planners to listen!