"When I moved in here it truly was my last resort. Since living here I feel like I have the same independent life that my friends have and I just don't want to lose that. The guide dog run is probably the most important thing for me. It's a safe and confined area where I feel comfortable taking my dog out, especially at night."
"If they (TPT) sell it and remove the functional status, this building isn't going to be for visually impaired people, so we will lose the accessibility of the housing and there's a really good chance we would be priced out."
"Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), which owns the site, said we are committed to ensuring that existing tenancies are protected through legal agreements with any future owner. In this current process we have not made any application for a change in special designation."
Pocklington Lodge in west London houses blind and visually impaired residents who depend on its specialized facilities including adapted laundry rooms, braille door entry systems, and guide dog runs. Residents like Jessica Parry, who moved in three years ago after struggling to find accessible accommodation, worry the sale could result in removal of the building's special designation protecting it for disabled occupants. This could make the property attractive to developers and lead to residents being priced out. Thomas Pocklington Trust, the current owner, has committed to protecting existing tenancies through legal agreements with future owners and states it has not applied to change the special designation.
#accessible-housing #disability-rights #property-sale #visually-impaired-communities #housing-security
Read at www.bbc.com
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