Why did you want to take part in this project? What’s your current living arrangement? How old are you?
I volunteered to take part in this project because I had seen the North Berwick development being built and was curious to know more. I had also been asked about it by friends who live in England and were considering a move to be closer to children and grandchildren locally.
I downsized 6 years ago from a 4 bedroom detached house with a large garden to a 3 bedroom property with a more manageable garden in Gullane, about 3 miles from the McCarthy and Stone development. This currently suits me well, especially as it allows me the space to have visits from family and friends.
I am 73 years young, reasonably fit, active both physically and mentally, still involved in research, writing and learning, arranged to fit around a range of leisure interests and volunteering.
- Which McCarthy & Stone property did you visit? Did you go with someone else (if so, who?)
I visited the Tantallon Court development in North Berwick. I went on my own, arriving on March 16 at 2.30pm as arranged. I met with Sheila MacKay (Sales Executive) and was introduced briefly to Jenny Howie (House Manager).
- What was your first impression of the development?
It should be said that the weather was pretty grim: wet and windy. Inside, however, it was warm and welcoming, spotlessly clean, with fresh flowers in the entrance area. Sheila was an excellent host and provided a good guided tour of the development, responding to all of my questions both on arrival and before departure the following morning.
- What did you think of the apartment, development and communal facilities?
The guest suite is on the second floor, with a view to the Law. It consists of a hallway leading on the left to the bedroom, which has a walk-in clothes cupboard; shower room with basin, toilet and shower; and on the right past a cupboard for electricity meter etc. and additional storage into the living room, which is equipped with comfortable seating, coffee table, TV, dining area with table and chairs; and finally the kitchen, complete with fridge/freezer, oven, hob, microwave and washer dryer. Given the lack of space, I appreciate the choice of a washer dryer. However, I’m not a fan of these for ‘green’ reasons. There was no dishwasher but Sheila pointed out that a small machine could be accommodated by either sacrificing a cupboard or space on the work surface. A nice touch was the fact that sockets were higher up the wall rather than at floor level. Overall, I found the flat to be well furnished and equipped, perfectly adequate for a short stay. The soundproofing was good. Despite the volume of traffic on the roads and roundabout, there was no noise in the apartment. Sheila commented that there was concrete flooring, which helped to minimise any noise.
With regard to the development as a whole, this was opened in June 2017 so everything is fresh and new: carpets, lighting, pictures on the walls, long corridors with seating areas, all empty, numbered doors leading to flats. For me it was all a bit bland, anonymous and hotel like - with one exception, where the occupant had put up a decorative hanging by the door. This may of course change with time, as more people move in and add personal touches. There are 24 one bedroom and 17 two bedroom apartments. Sales have not been brisk and a lot of properties are as yet unsold.
The entrance hall leads to the Homeowners’ lounge. There is a small kitchen on the left before the lounge, with a kettle, fridge etc.; also a notice board with details of activities: Wednesday film evenings, Thursday coffee mornings and Yoga classes. The lounge itself was comfortably furnished, but empty. I spent much of the evening there reading, but no one else put in an appearance. There were signs of use: e.g. a jigsaw was under construction; just not on the evening I was there.
As a keen gardener, I was interested in the communal gardens but found these to be quite limited in size and scope. I would miss mine and the opportunities it provides for pottering and passing the time of day with neighbours etc. There are two beautifully crafted benches to the left of the front entrance. Given their proximity to the roundabout however, I don’t imagine that anyone would wish to sit out there for long.
I asked about provision for wheelchair users and was told that all the properties were wheelchair friendly. Also, that there was a storage room on the ground floor to accommodate items like mobility scooters, bicycles etc.
- How was the customer service?
I met only briefly with the House Manager so can’t really comment, apart from saying as I have above, that everything looked clean and welcoming.
One thing I did ask Sheila about was the presence of a defibrillator in the kitchen area: specifically, if home owners were trained in its use. (Wearing my volunteer hat, I’ve undergone this training myself.) I was quite surprised to be told that only the House manager could use it. The manager is contracted for a 30 hour working week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9.30a.m and 3.30p.m. Otherwise, there is a 24 hour Emergency Monitoring service (Tunstall facility) which holds residents’ details on file. Given the need to respond quickly in an emergency, I found the lack of defibrillator training difficult to understand.
- How did you find the location?
The brochure describes the development as “retirement living in the heart of the community”. However, as the publicity materials point out, the High Street is 13 minutes away by bus, so not exactly central. There is a bus stop nearby. Walking into town is easy, downhill all the way. Walking back, uphill, especially if carrying any shopping etc., would be less so. Also, while the property does have a view towards Berwick Law, the main outlook to the front is of the roundabout and the ALDI carpark. The roundabout is also quite busy: one exit takes you into town, past the ALDI store; the second past a Business Park , workshops and a graveyard to a TESCO store and petrol station; while the third leads to the local Household Refuse Disposal site.
- Did you feel ‘at home’ in the apartment? What made you feel at home?
Yes thanks, it was perfectly adequate for an overnight stay. Milk, juice and fruit were provided in the fridge, along with biscuits, tea and coffee making facilities, all much appreciated.
- Do you think the apartment would be easy to live in/suitable for your needs (either now or in the future)?
As indicated above, it’s compact and has everything necessary for a short stay. It wouldn’t suit me though. I have a large library of books; large desk with computer, printer etc.; quantity of photographic and other leisure equipment. I enjoy entertaining. I also enjoy living in an all age community, with older people, younger children and all ages in between. And I value my space.
- How satisfied were you with the overall experience?
I was sorry not to have an opportunity to meet current home owners and hear about their experiences of living there. I did have a chat with one woman as I was leaving. She had just come in with a small dog on a lead and, as I had been told that pets were welcome, I commented about how pleased she must be that her dog was welcome there. She replied that, while she had been told that dogs were allowed in the residents’ lounge, provided they were well behaved and on a lead, when she had taken her dog into the lounge, on a lead, she had been informed by another resident that this was not the case. It may be that this was an isolated incident/misunderstanding (I didn’t probe) or it may be that there is a lack of clarity on this issue?
- Following your stay, would you consider moving to the development now or in the future?
No.
- If you would consider a move in the future, what are the barriers, or what are your current concerns stopping you from making that decision?
The service charges seem quite high at £36.80 a week for a 1 bedroom apartment and £55.20 for a 2 bedroom apartment. Add to this the costs of Council Tax, Electricity, TV License, Contents insurance, any maintenance specifically relating to your apartment. And, if you have a car, there is a permit fee of £250 per annum. That said, car parking and rent of the guest suite(£25 a night) is calculated as income and used to reduce the total service charge, if only by a relatively minor amount, given the overall budget.
I have friends who live in Retirement Villages in this country and abroad (Australia) and love the way of life. Given a choice, I’d prefer that kind of provision to this.
A particular concern relates to what happens if/when an individual becomes physically or mentally unable to continue independent living in a development such as this and is then faced with the upheaval of having to sell up and move again to a facility offering greater support.
- Would you consider other McCarthy & Stone developments? If so where?
Not personally.
- Following your stay, how likely are you to recommend that development to a friend?
I do have friends who might like this kind of development and will happily recommend if they ask and it seems appropriate.
- Finally, my visit provided me with only a brief snapshot, from 2.30pm one day to 11.00am the next. If there are errors or misunderstandings in what I’ve written, they are all mine and I stand to be corrected.