Folkestone resident explains creation of ‘MOD not welcome here’ sign after ‘shameful treatment’

A sign erected outside of a Folkestone home has created quite a stir among the local community. Back in June, a sign that read: “MOD not welcome here” appeared outside of a home in Enbrook Road, immediately sparking a fair amount of backlash.

Golden Valley has previously been a Ministry of Defence (MOD) settlement zone, and though the number of armed forces families now living there is less than it once was, there remains a number still taking residence in the area. When the sign was first displayed, a local neighbour, 82-year-old George Pound said: “I was absolutely disgusted, having been a soldier myself […] It’s just not British.”

The sign was promptly defaced, with the word ‘not’ scribbled out in black ink. Other neighbours also took to displaying their own signs, instead showing their support for military families in the area.

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Soon after, the sign was taken down. Now, the resident who created the sign has spoken to KentLive about what exactly drove him to do so, and why he has such grief with the MOD presence in the area.

Hugh Martin, 87, has lived in the Golden Valley for 55 years with his wife. His grievances stem from his claims that the MOD has occupied homes in the area since 1967 that were initially intended for private ownership, despite allegedly assuring residents that this occupation would only last a maximum of 10 years.

Explaining where the issues began, he claimed: “It was two weeks before we were due to move in and it was announced that the MOD were going to buy the rest of the estate.

“This was already an estate of completely private owners, and they were up in arms. There was a meeting between a group of people including builders, the army, and members of the MOD and 120 private residents.

“One of the things that was said was that this was an emergency measure. If I remember correctly, it was to bring back the troops from the East of Suez, and I’m sure I heard the phrase ‘short term’.

“Somebody asked: ‘How long are they going to be army quarters?’ And the reply was that it would be reasonable to expect that all the houses would be back in private hands, private ownership, within 10 years – and that was 55 years ago.”

He went on to discuss why he created the sign earlier in the month. Hugh said: “I discovered that there was due to be a home reoccupied [by MOD] by the 7th of June, and on the 6th of June, I put the sign up.

“Then it all hit the fan, I never expected that. At most somebody might’ve said: ‘What’s all this about?’ We’ve lived quite respectfully of our neighbours over the last 55 years.”



Some other neighbours had opted to create signs of their own
Some other neighbours had opted to create signs of their own

While the sign had been taken down, there is every chance it may appear once more. Hugh carried on to say: “We’ve been treated shamefully by the MOD.

“I’m sort of expecting them [the MOD] to move somebody in. I’ve taken the sign down because we were worried somebody would put a brick through the window, but it’s ready to go back up at a moment’s notice. If they try to move somebody in, I will put it back up.”

KentLive has contacted the MOD regarding these claims, however they did not wish to provide a statement on the matter.

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Article Source: Kent Live