Dozens of Peterborough families left devastated after MOD tells them to move out of homes

Around 60 households in Wittering were given the news by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) last week, as the MOD are to hand back the properties to freeholder Annington.

Now the families are desperately hoping something can be done to allow them to stay at their home.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said she and her family were heartbroken by the news.

She said: “This is our home. We moved in last year, and nowhere has felt like home more than this since I moved out of my parents’ home/ It is like a family here. Everyone has stuck to social distancing, but we all clapped for the NHS together, and celebrated VE Day. It is our home.

“On Wednesday evening we got an email from (MOD estate agent) Orchard and Shipman (O&S) warning us about the decision. The next day a letter landed on our doorsteps telling us we had six months to leave.

“Everyone here is devastated. I have never cried so much before. There have been people crying in the streets.

“There are families who have been here only for a few weeks, and there are families with children at Wittering school.

“We don’t know what to do.”

A spokesman for the MOD said residents in the affected properties in Wittering were told they could be given a six month notice period at any point - but the woman said: “We have not been told anything like that. I don’t think we would have moved here if we had been told that.

“We have done a lot of gardening and re-decorating, which we have to ask permission for, but have not been told anything.

“It is so stressful at the moment.

“Annington won’t find better tenants than us. We look after the properties, pay the rent. We just want to stay.”

A MoD spokesperson said: “As part of our responsibility to manage our estate effectively, any extra and vacant properties can be let on a short term basis, with tenants made aware of the notice period before they move in.

“We will work with our partners to try to identify alternative accommodation in the area for those directly affected.”

The spokesman said the MOD had 433 properties in Wittering, with 71 being handed back to Annington. Of those 71, 61 are currently occupied.

A condition of the contract between Annington and the MOD states the properties must be handed back when they are vacant.

A spokesman for Annington said: “We understand a number of people have been contacted by Orchard & Shipman about the termination of tenancies with the MOD, which has understandably caused concern. While Annington is the effective freeholder of the properties, we have had no involvement in the decision to terminate these tenancies and were not previously aware of it. We suggest you direct any communication on this matter to the MOD and Orchard & Shipman.”

The Peterborough Telegraph asked Annington if residents currently living in the properties would be given first refusal on the homes once they had been handed back - but the Annington spokesman said they were unable to comment on any other matters.

North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara said: “This is a very serious matter concerning a significant number of households and a number of people have contacted Gavin Elsey and myself.

“We have spoken and are in touch with some of the local residents who are affected and we are working together to try to find a way forward.”

A spokesman for O&S said they were unable to comment, directing the Peterborough Telegraph to the MOD.