Put welfare of elderly first

Madam, – I was sad and disappointed when I read in today’s Courier (September 3) that there has been no progress made over the past 12 months to build a new care home in Anstruther to replace the existing Ladywalk care home.

In the meantime the residents of Ladywalk continue to live in sub-standard accommodation. When I was a member of the community council I strongly advocated to it and Fife Council that the new care home be built in Bankie Park, a stone’s throw from the existing facility. I think it’s fair to say I was alone in recommending the Bankie Park site.

Due to an extremely effective protest against the building of the home in Bankie Park, by the Save Bankie Park Group, and all credit to them, Fife Council backed down and said they would look at other options. Twelve months later they are still looking at other options.

The original proposed area for the new build was in a part of the park which was covered in weeds and thistles and was laughingly called the “wildflower area”. It was never used as a play area.

My views on where the new Ladywalk care home should go has never changed and are well recorded and minuted.

It is my opinion that building the home on the south side of the park will cause the least disruption to the residents of the home.

Furthermore, toilets for the park users could be incorporated into the new build: there are no toilets in the wellused park which, in my opinion, is a disgrace.

Can I ask Fife Council, the community council, and the Save Bankie Park group how long they are