Care home owner bids to ease fears over extension
THE owner of a care home has spoken out to reassure those living close by that they will not be affected by a planned expansion.
Woodlands Care Centre, on Woodlands Road, Macclesfield, has been given permission for an extension that would take the number of bedrooms it has from 23 to 34.
Doctor Judith Stockton, who took over the home in September 2018, says many of her residents have dementia and the extra space will provide much needed care places and help ease pressure on Macclesfield Hospital.
She has also said there will be - and currently is - sufficient on-site parking and any problems with delivery trucks blocking Woodlands Road pre-date her arrival and are now a thing of the past.
This is in response to an objection to the planning application for the extension from a nearby resident.
It complained about food deliveries blocking Woodlands Road, which is unadopted, and the street becoming an ‘overspill car park’ for the care home.
Dr Stockton said: “Most of our staff live locally and walk or cycle to work, but there will be an additional five parking spaces which were required by the planners.
“This gives us 17 parking spaces in total, including two disabled bays, along with a turning area and adequate space for an ambulance.
“I am not aware of any of our staff or visitors parking on Woodlands Road on a regular basis. There is plenty of parking for our needs.”
Since taking over Dr Stockton says she now uses a different food wholesaler who delivers three times a week with a small van that can fit through the gates of the home.
She added: “Occasionally a larger vehicle arrives which parks in Woodlands Road during the delivery.
“I was not aware this was any cause for consternation by our neighbours as the delivery takes only a few minutes.
“But I have spoken to my supplier to request that only smaller vehicles are sent to us in future.
“They are looking into the logistics of this.”
Woodlands Caer Centre was rated good in its last inspection by the Care Quality Commission.