OLD .PEOPLE'S HOMES
SIR,—The note on old people's problems in the Spectator of July 30 raises once again the question of providing suitable accommo- dation for them.
After the publication of my letter of April 16 in your journal, I received a con- siderable correspondence from elderly people who expressed great interest in the idea, of providing such accommodation, and were willing to consider a capital investment. I made enquiries as to suitable houses, and the National Trust have Slindon House which they are prepared to let at a nominal rent.
It is pleasantly situated on high ground near Arundel and nine miles from Bognor. Two bus services have hourly connections between Slindon village, Arundel and Bognor.
The house is eminently suitable for a, resi- dential Country Club, with large reception rooms and 39 bedrooms of different sizes. The necessary financial arrangements would be briefly as follows:
An income of approximately £2,500 per annum would be required to cover rent, rates (there would be no schedule ' A' tax), lighting, heating, domestic and outside help. This sum could be raised by charging rent, for the rooms at a varying rate, based on WV size and position of the rooms, from £1' to £2 per week. Members would be required to furnish their own rooms.
The working capital required to cover necessary equipment and alterations, to bring the lighting and heating systems up to date, and to put into working order an electric lift, which is in the house, could be raised by would-be members taking up transferable debenture shares of £500 based on a member- ship of 25, which the- house could Com- fortably accommodate.
Staffing and catering arrangements would on the opening of the Club' be temporary, it being left to the members, through an elected committee, to. make their own arrangements. If sufficient support is forth- coming, based on the lines indicatid, immediate negotiations would be enteredlto with the National Trust to rent the houseKMd estimates obtained for such work as wotild be necessary to alter and equip the hottse as a club,—Yours faithfully, c. DOUGLAS-corks H Urstpierpoint, Sussex
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