Villagers furious over Council plans to buy £1.25m Oxford mansion for ‘troubled families’

Under offer: The Oxfordshire mansion Hackney council are looking to buy. Photograph: Penny & Sinclair

Residents of a tranquil Oxfordshire village are fuming over Hackney Council’s plans to buy a £1.25 million mansion and use it to send families “at risk of breakdown” on holiday.

Hackney Council has put in an offer for the 19th century Silver Trees mansion, set on a two-acre plot of land on Bagley Wood Road in the village of Kennington, and applied under the name of ‘An Inner North London Borough’ to change its residential use.

Using funds from a £2m grant from the Department for Education’s Innovation programme, the council plans to send up to three Hackney families at one time on trips to “strengthen family relationships”.

The council said the property would have a capacity of 18 people during the day and 14 people at night and will be staffed at all times.

But Silver Trees neighbours think the property will be used as a facility for “troubled families” and are “overwhelmingly opposed” to the plans.

‘Culture shock’

Objection letters sent in response to the application warn that a “transient population” of urban families would be “incompatible” with the area.

One local resident said the Oxfordshire countryside would be a “culture shock” to the urban family, saying: “I really cannot see the benefit of bringing troubled London families on short breaks to Bagley Wood Road.”

Another objector said a lack of amusements for children could “cause problems, and maybe even anti-social behaviour”

Criticism was also levelled at the council for the “extravagant” purchase and for not revealing its identity.

Speaking on behalf of Kennington residents, Matthew Batstone said: “This is a profligate use of public money in what is supposed to be a time of austerity. This property is completely unsuitable for the provision of short breaks for Hackney families.

“This proposal is extravagant and it ignores the enormous and urgent need for family housing in Oxfordshire.”

Mr Batstone also said there were “considerable environmental risks” on the property and dangers such as unfenced access to a major motorway and limited public transport.

‘Ideal location’

Hackney Council told the Hackney Citizen the tranquil location of the property was “ideal” for the scheme.

A Council spokesperson said: “Hackney Council recently received funding from the DfE Innovation Fund to run a programme to help children and families who would benefit from some structured time away from home.

“It is a voluntary programme with parents and, where appropriate, foster carers joining the children and taking part in a programme of learning and support. It is primarily aimed at children in care or families at risk of breakdown, with a maximum of three families staying for short periods.

When asked why the Council had applied for the change of use under the name of an Inner North London Borough, a Council spokeswoman said it was the name given by the agent, Knight Frank.