Veterans’ victory

Heroes ‘will not be made homeless’

LABOUR and military veterans have won their battle to stop dozens of armed forces heroes being made homeless.

Chelsea FC is buying most of a housing complex site where over 100 veterans live. The £80million deal left 42 of the residents who will have to move out fearing being abandoned as they do not have assured tenancy.

But campaigners are hailing victory after the charity that owns the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions site in Fulham, West London, guaranteed all residents will get new homes.

Councillor Ben Coleman, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Chelsea and Fulham, who has been at the forefront of the battle, said: “I’m delighted.” Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey, who joined veterans at the flats next to Chelsea’s ground, said Mr Coleman’s contribution included getting the club to pause its plans until residents were taken care of.

He added: “The main problem was the Stoll organisation was fixed on raising funds for the charity and lost sight of the residents.” The site has housed war heroes for 100 years.

Stoll chief Will Campbell-wroe said: “We are well under way with securing properties with greatly improved accommodation for veterans in the local area, where our residents will receive enhanced support.

“If residents choose to move somewhere other than a Stoll property when they leave the site, we will provide 12 months of support to them.

“We are committed to ensuring all residents are supported during the sale of the site.”

The main issue was they lost sight of the residents JOHN HEALEY ON THE STOLL CHARITY

CAMPAIGN Labour’s John Healey, right, with Stoll Mansions residents