'˜Mindless vandals' leave Midhurst residents at risk

Trustees who run the historic almshouses in Midhurst were left angry and frustrated when all the fire extinguishers were stolen for the third time.

Chairman of Ognells Almshouses trustees, Judy Fowler said: “Quite apart from the cost, this has left people in the flats at risk. Whoever thinks removing fire extinguishers from an almshouse is fun or clever should know it is a potentially life threatening act of mindless vandalism.”

There are eight studio flats for people in need in the Ognells building in North Street. The two extinguishers at the top of both flights of stairs were taken early on Saturday morning (February 11).

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“One of the residents heard a noise at 1.50am,” said Judy, “and another heard an engine running.”

She said one of the extinguishers, which had been let off, had since been found in the weir nearby.

“Each time we have to replace them it costs the charity around £600,” she said, “and this is money that could be spent on upkeep of the building. We have reported it to the police.”

She said one of the problems trustees faced was that the building was listed and it was difficult to get permission to make the original doors more secure. “But we think we are going to have to make a case to do something about it now.”

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The building was erected in the 1700s with money donated by philanthropist George Ognell, a wealthy merchant from the Midlands. Almshouses were also built in Emsworth and Winchester, but the Midhurst homes are the only ones remaining.

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