New care home plans blocked
PLANS for a new care home have been blocked due to ‘totally inadequate’ parking arrangements.
Proposals to convert a large detached house into a 12-bedroom facility for the elderly were recommended for approval by Stockport council officers.
A report found the home, in Chester Road, Hazel Grove, would boost care provision without causing ‘undue adverse impacts’ in the area.
But the authority’s planning and highways committee was not persuaded the scheme was in the best interests of residents.
Chief among members’ concerns was the fact four of the five parking spaces could at times be taken up by staff. While the officer’s report said this would be sufficient to meet demand from visitors and workers, the panel disagreed.
Coun Brian Bagnall said similar schemes elsewhere in the borough had resulted in blocked driveways, blocked pavements and double-parking.
“I have concerns that the application before us will not be a true reflection of what reality will become,” he added.
“That will put additional pressure on parking provision, if that reality had been reflected in the report, the officer’s recommendation of both highways and planning may have been different.”
His comments were echoed by Coun Roy Driver who said the proposed parking provision was ‘totally inadequate.’
Coun Christine Corris took a similar view on the application submitted by Dr Miriam Al-Amin.
She told the meeting: “This application hangs or falls by the parking provision and I don’t believe there’s enough. If there was sufficient room within the plot to have more parking a lot of our concerns would be dealt with.”
Coun Corris added that it would be ‘absolutely unacceptable’ to ‘inflict the problems’ the committee could foresee would arise on residents.
And she was one of several councillors to raise concerns over the proposed staffing levels at the home.
The planning officer’s report noted there would be four care staff – including the manager – with two on shift at any given time.
There would also be a cleaner visiting once a week, a cook on site during the mornings and a district nurse in attendance as required.
Coun Corris told the meeting: “I don’t believe the staffing numbers are adequate. The thought of communal areas, let alone individual rooms only being cleaned on a weekly basis fills me with absolute horror.”
Committee chair Coun Andy Sorton reminded councillors that the safe operation of the home fell within the remit of the CQC, not the planning committee. However, many felt it was still right to put their concerns on record.
Coun Wendy Meikle said having two members of staff on shift at any one time was ‘not good enough’ – and neither was the kitchen or food supply.
“Would I like my mum or dad in there with two staff members? No,” she said.
“I just cannot support this, I would feel guilty.
“Our elderly retired residents who will probably end up in a care home deserve the best that we can give them.”
Coun Meikle acknowledged staffing levels and the safe running of the home were technically a matter for the CQC. But she added: “If I agree to something I like to feel really confident I am doing the right thing. I do not feel this is the right thing. I cannot support this application.”
The application was rejected by nine votes to three. Couns Andy Sorton and Graham Greenhalgh said they ‘reluctantly’ voted in favour of the application due to advice it was in line with the council’s planning policies.