36 Grays Lane - guestbook

It seems that the guestbook software is throwing a few glitches. We've had a few reports of random "permanent bannings" and posts disappearing. Please accept our apologies if either of these happen to you and, if you want to enter a message but it won't allow you, feel free to email your message and the name / location you'd like put to the email on the home-page

We've found that the vast majority of Ashtead residents are overwhelmingly supportive of SSAFA, Headley Court, the Armed Forces and our campaign. The 90 or so objectors, and their attitudes, do not represent most Ashtead residents from everything we've seen. Please, in thanks to all those people, bear that in mind when posting!

Thank you to everyone who's helped achieve this wonderful result. We've known from the outset that the concerns raised were misplaced. SSAFA and the families concerned will now have the chance to prove that. We know they'll be more than equal to the task.

Oh, and thanks for all the fish

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Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Debbie
From: Manchester
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

I am totally disgusted by the reason behind the objections of the resident of Grays Lane. As the daughter of a retired soldier who served for 22 years to defended this country and the mother of a current serving member of the Armed Forces, I find their reason for objection to be purely selfish and unreasonable. They have the attitude of 'Not in my back yard' which seems far to prelevant these days, These facilities are for those that have put their life on the line so that these people can continue to have the life style they currently enjoy. They seem to think that the family of these men and women are nothing but trash. I for one find this to be personally insulting. We may not have the luck to live in this area but it now makes me wonder how did they come to have the financial ability to live here. Is it old money or new money and then I have to wonder how that money was made. If I sound bitter, I am and angry at the attitude of these residents.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Dawn
From: Ipswich

I hope to God that the residents of Grays Lane never need a facility such as this one. This is NOT something intended to cause disruption and upset - it is to help people injured whilst in the line of duty. Fighting, that is, for people such as the residents. Perhaps they should count their blessings that it is not their loved ones in war torn countries fighting for people, who obviously do not give a damn. Out of sight and out of mind I suppose. I find it disgusting that these people cannot give a little something back to say thank you to these brave guys and girls. It is a shining example of small minded ignorance from a small minded community.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Mick Roots
From: Fulham, England

It's a shame that as a nation we do not do enough for the soldiers that look after this wonderful country of ours..........more should be done.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Ian Kemsey-Bourne
From: Horsham, Sussex

I am saddened by the NIMBY attitude of the residents of Grays Lane. These wounded service people are not residents of a mental hospital or evicted council house tenants - as many other comments have emphasised, these are seriously injured volunteers who were wounded fighting for Queen and Country.
I served 22 years in the Royal Artillery and I am now a Branch Secretary in the RA Association, helping to support Gunner veterans of many conflicts. How many of these Grays Lane NIMBYs can assert that they have ever served their country? I hope you are ashamed.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Mike Still
From: Melrose
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

Having served for 25 years in the days that we had military hospitals I was fortunate in that I never had to use one as a result of injury. Now we have no such facility, to deny the use of a small house to the families of the most seriously injured is totally despicable.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Sam McIntyre
From: Cheshire
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

This is, effectively, similar to the Ronald McDonald housing for the families of sick children in hospitals and hospices across the world. People rarely object to these, why should they object to this? These familiy are trying to cope with the severe injury of a loved one, most often a parent - to object that it is similar to a hostel or an increase in traffic is both selfish and unjustified.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Stephen Harrison
From: Codford, Wiltshire
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

This is by far the worst case of "NIMBY-ism" that I have ever encountered. I have no doubt whatsoever that all the local residents who have raised such selfish and flacid objections would unreservedly applaud the bravery of our service personnel, would support the need for a first class facility such as Headley Court to exist and would recognise the overriding need to provide the wherewithal for affected relatives and friends to visit those who have suffered on their behalves. But as soon as these measures threaten to affect them personally, their principled support dissolves in a pool of self interest.

This is by far the worst case of NIMBY-ism that I have ever encountered. I have no doubt whatsoever that all the local residents who have raised such selfish and flaccid objections would unreservedly applaud the bravery of our service personnel, would support the need for a first class facility such as Headley Court to exist and would recognise the overriding imperative to provide the wherewithal for affected relatives and friends to visit those who have suffered on their behalves. But as soon as these measures threaten to affect these residents personally, their principled support dissolves in a pool of self interest. The objections are without substance and are but a thinly veiled and pathetic attempt to protect their own pockets and lifestyle at the expense of those who have sacrificed so much for their right to express such loathsome objections.

I’m afraid that the reaction of these people is not untypical and is perhaps symptomatic of the selfish, consumer-oriented and money-conscious society that has evolved over the last 30 years or so. Where I live, an objection was recently raised against the building of 10 affordable housing units on the grounds that the development would “lower the tone and the value” of the neighbourhood! I’m afraid it seems that matters of conscience are increasingly falling victim to personal greed and an indifference to the needs of others.

I was treated in Headley Court for 6 weeks in 2004 before being medically discharged in 2005. I received one visit for 2 hours during my time there, simply because it was too far and too expensive to visit. This proposed facility would allow close ones to offer the support and togetherness that is such an important part of the healing process. For local residents to object is nothing short of sinful.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Brian
From: West
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

Having served 20 years myself for Queen and Country it is a sad day when a small group of selfish and narrow minded greedy individuals, who think they have the sole right to the peace and tranquility of an area which they knew had a military hopistal in close proximity to their "Castles", when our brave men and women are defending their rights to live in such surroundings. These men and women have given something of themselves for these people to have these right to be so selfish and norrow minded, so they should give something up in return so those injured know that it was not in vain.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Jeremy McTeague
From: Switzerland
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

Objections to the SSAFA proposals are mean, selfish and pathetically transparent. The fact that that not one resident would defend their reasons to the Daily Mail clearly shows that they know their arguments are pure sophistry. It would be interesting to know just what percentage of these people have served in the forces or in public service. I wonder how many would volunteer to visit or work in the facility one day a month. 36 Grays Lane and SSAFA have my fullest support.Jeremy McTeague.

Added: July 28, 2007

Submitted by

Comments:

Name: Andy
From: Surrey
E-mail: nospam@nospam.com

I'm ex-services (1960). In the eighties I was a policeman in the area which covered Ashtead. On reflection, when you hear about such selfishness, you sometimes wonder why you bothered.

Added: July 28, 2007

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