The shock announcement came in a letter to all six homes, at the South Street Almshouses; it is signed by Keith Day, (who only returned as a Trustee of the Daniel Taylor Almshouse Trust/Dantay/DTAT seven weeks ago, after suddenly resigning in April 2022) but tenant’s believe it has ‘all the hallmarks’ of Chair, David Partridge’s approach to managing their homes.
A voluntary, tenant spokesperson, Felicity Benfield, said the proposal is ‘really bizarre’, especially considering the Trust submitted a document to Weymouth County Court, only SIX MONTHS AGO, saying they had £398,848 in funds, an annual revenue of over £26,000 and outline consent for a loan of £150,000.
“I cannot believe that they have spent £400,000 to £550,000 in six months and now need to raise more capital by turfing out 6 tenants from their homes – some who have lived there more than 20 years – and all are really distressed and upset by the news.”
The letter says the sale is being considered “as part of the long-term plan to provide more low-cost housing in the Bridport area… in order to finance current and future projects.”
The Trust are currently converting Chancery House – a former day centre for the elderly – into 8 flats, after being ‘gifted’ the building by Dorset Council in 2019; tenants believe their rent is being used to finance the conversion – even though the Trust has given public assurances that South Street ‘rental income’ is ring-fenced.
In a resignation e-mail, (after only 4 months in post), former Almshouse Trustee, Simon Bartorksi, accused David Partridge of doing “everything in your power to make their (the tenants) lives difficult” and, “…You’re incapable of balancing the interests of the tenants at South St with the project at Chancery Lane”.
“Both David Partridge and Keith Day have made much of the fact that they are creating ‘8 new homes at Chancery House in Bridport’ but now they are planning to remove 6 existing homes – so that’s a grand total of 2 ‘new’ homes – well below what has been promised to the Council, the Court and the town” said Felicity.
“I am so sorry for everyone at 95 South Street , this letter is typical of David Partridge and Keith Day’s complete lack of care for their ‘vulnerable’ tenants:
“No offer of alternative accommodation, no offer of housing/support advice just a ridiculous suggestion that the Quakers might buy the property – who, I’m pretty sure, ‘gave’ it to the Daniel Taylor Almshouse Trust in the first place – and no expression of sorrow or concern for upending their vulnerable tenants lives.”
A former neighbour and friend of the South Street tenants said he was not sure that what Partridge and Day are proposing is legal,
“They don’t ‘own’ the Almshouses in the way that someone might own a house. They are supposed to be managing the properties on behalf of the Trust. I think the Charity Commission and local MP and relevant housing officers should be kept fully informed of these developments.
“It is concerning that at the last AGM, I attended, these Trustees assured a public meeting that Daniel Taylor Almshouses in South Street were ring-fenced and no monies could be used elsewhere.
“It’s not at all clear why Partridge and Day are now proposing to sell the Almshouses, when it seems there was a stockpile 6 months ago, that could have been used for vital repairs at South Street. I think it all needs proper investigation, and even new Trustees found, who can rescue this Trust from its current landlords.”
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