A COUNCILLOR has issued an urgent appeal to help secure the future of Newton Abbot’s ‘Little Poland’ – the country’s last remaining ‘hostel’ for Polish veterans who served alongside British forces in the Second World War - following a visit to the site.

Councillor Jacqueline Fry (Newton Abbot North, Reform UK) recently visited Ilford Park Polish Home, saying she was deeply moved by what she described as its ‘warmth, tranquillity and strong sense of community’.

Since being established in 1947, the number of people living at Ilford Park has declined, with its owner, the Ministry of Defence, having begun a consultation on its future.

Cllr Fry said she was struck by the setting and atmosphere during her visit, describing the countryside location as peaceful and the home itself as providing residents with dignity, comfort and companionship.

‘What stood out most was the atmosphere’, she said.

‘There is a real sense of love, compassion and community. The staff are clearly devoted to the residents and it feels like a family’, she added.

She was shown around the home by manager Rob Rowntree and met residents to discuss concerns about its long-term future.

While the Ministry of Defence has confirmed there are no plans to close the home while residents remain, current occupancy is understood to be around 40 people, raising concerns about sustainability.

Cllr Fry warned that without new residents, the home could eventually close once current residents pass away or move on.

‘The reality is stark’, she said.

‘Without new residents coming forward, the home will eventually reach the end of its natural life. That would mean the loss of something far greater than a care facility’, she added.

Following her visit, Cllr Fry has launched an appeal for eligible individuals or their families to consider residency at Ilford Park in order to help secure its future.

‘If you may qualify for residency, or know someone who does, please make contact with the home’, she said.

‘Registering interest could help provide a clearer picture of future occupancy and support its long-term survival’, she added.

She has also written to the Ministry of Defence calling for a review of eligibility criteria, arguing that widening access could help ensure the home remains viable.

‘At a time when many veterans struggle to access suitable accommodation, it seems right that this home should be opened to a wider community’, she said.

‘Whether Polish, British or from other nations that have made the UK their home, there is a strong case for allowing them to benefit’, she added.

Cllr Fry added that it would be ‘a tragedy’ if the home were lost.

For those interested, contact Rob on 01626 352488 or [email protected]