4 DECEMBER 2007
Simon Weston Supports The Royal Star & Garter Homes' Quest for a New Home at Hampton Court Station
Falklands veteran Simon Weston, a Vice President of The Royal Star & Garter Charity for disabled ex-Service men and women, based in Richmond, this week spoke of his support for the Charity’s plans to build a new care home at the Hampton Court Station site. The Charity submitted a planning application to Elmbridge Council in November in conjunction with Gladedale, the site developers, and Network Rail.
In 2004, the Charity announced its intention to replace its large home on Richmond Hill, which is no longer suitable for the now mainly elderly residents, with new, smaller state-of-the-art care homes around the country. The Charity will also, for the first time, incorporate special facilities for those with dementia, an area of urgent and growing need.
“This development programme of new homes is vital if we are to meet the growing need for residential care for elderly and frail ex-Service people” Simon said. “This year is the 25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict when I was injured, and it reminds us that there will always be ex-Service people who will need our support, perhaps not now, but later in their lives. People are also living longer and as time goes on there will be more and more veterans in need of care. Clearly there is much, much more we need to do to look after our ex-Service people who have all done so much for us”.
Research has shown that by 2020 there will be 115,000 veterans over the age of 85 who will need the kind of care the Royal Star & Garter can offer. Some 40,000 of these will have dementia. Currently there are only just over 1000 beds in ex-Service care homes and only about 100 for those with dementia.
The Hampton Court site is ideal for the new home as it encompasses excellent transport links and proximity to amenities, including shops and restaurants. The flat location and access to the river and adjoining park are further distinct advantages which will greatly enhance the disabled residents’ ability to get out and about. The site is also in a very desirable area and borders the Borough of Richmond, which has been the Charity’s home for over 90 years, ensuring links with local volunteers and organisations can be maintained.
The development will also include the much needed refurbishment of the Hampton Court station building, new residential housing, a hotel and a riverside terrace. Underground car parking will be available with direct access to the new Royal Star & Garter Home and there will be a new transport interchange, including taxi rank and bus stops, and safer pedestrian and cycle links.
“I think this is a fantastic development,” said Simon, “not only providing the ideal spot for a Royal Star & Garter Home, but also making the station and riverside area so much more appealing. The residents in the new home will have the best, modern facilities as well as easy access to the park and river walks. I think it will be great, and I hope the small group of objectors will think again when they see how much this will mean to the Royal Star & Garter residents as well as the local community.”