Residents urged to attend meeting
People in Blantyre will next week be given the chance to hear about plans for a multi-million pound investment in the heart of the town.
South Lanarkshire Council plans to convert the former St Joseph’s Primary School into a hub for adults and older people as part of an £18m care vision.
The proposed development marks out the first phase of a modernisation programme announced by the council a year ago.
Now an information day will take place on Wednesday, July 31, in Blantyre Miners’ Welfare between 2pm and 7pm.
The council’s director of health and social care, Val de Souza, said: “We are giving people the chance to come along and find out about the plans, as well as keeping the community fully updated about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it and the reasons why.”
Proposals submitted to South Lanarkshire Council’s planning department in June show four elements to the plans for the former St Joseph’s Primary School site.
They include 20 transitional care apartments for adults and older people. Transitional care has been shown to be effective in supporting older people to live happier and healthier lives in their own communities rather than moving to long-term residential care, says the council.
There will also be a centre of excellence – specialising in training and development of health and social care staff. Although unique to the proposed Hamilton/blantyre facility, it will support all localities.
A community-facing hub will also be established, featuring a café, demonstration site, guidance and support for unpaid carers, linkage and signposting into a raft of communitybased voluntary and third sector support.
Twenty homes are to be built for adults and older people, designed and equipped with technology to support people requiring a higher level of support and those with complex disabilities to live independently in a family home rather than moving to residential care.
In addition it is proposed that a further 25 new council homes would be built on the site.
Ms Souza said: “In effect we are developing a model of care that will enhance our ability to meet changing care needs, particularly in light of significant population change over the last 20 years and responding to what people have told us.
“It is about improving people’s and offering real choice.
“This approach to care offers the people of South Lanarkshire more choices and options to be maintained at home and in the community.”
The information day will be held at Blantyre Miners’ Welfare between 2pm and 7pm.
All are welcome to attend. lives