Dear Mr Macaulay,
Thank you for your prompt reply to our letter of 1 September 2011 to Mr Stewart. I am sorry that I did not make clear our position regarding the Bletchley Park former canteen buildings.
One of the main aims in establishing the Residents’ Association in 1990 was to support, as much as possible, the preservation of Bletchley Park and the wartime buildings associated with it. That being so, we support the decision of Milton Keynes Council that the owner of the site should retain all, or part of, the existing buildings in any development there. The owner maintains that he has received no offers by anyone to undertake such a development. We know that this is not true. A local property owner, who has already restored one building associated with the Park, has made such an offer. As yet the owner of the canteen site has not appealed against the refusal of his latest application.
All the residents of Wilton Avenue are members of our Association. Their views on what should happen were divided fifty-fifty when the latest application to demolish the buildings and erect six houses was under consultation. Those in favour of the application mostly approved because of the many years of inconvenience they had suffered from vandalism and arson on the site. They felt that the situation would be resolved more quickly if the application was approved. Their neighbours supported the views of the Council Conservation Officer that at least some of the buildings should be preserved.
As an Association we should like to see this irresponsible site owner compelled to carry out the obligations placed on him by planning legislation, and in the meantime to make the site secure, before a tragic accident happens there.
Enclosed is a copy of the Association’s latest newsletter, for your information.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs C.R. Simpson, Hon. Secretary BPARA
