Care home petition is handed to council
1600 residents support the moves for £3m unit in town
Campaigners who want a new £3m care home built in Wishaw have handed in a petition containing 1600 names to council chiefs.
Representatives of Central Wishaw Community Council and Coltness Community Council delivered the petition to councillors at Coltness Community Centre on Friday afternoon.
Labour councillors Angela Feeney and Louise Roarty along with the SNP’s Jim Hume and Cameron McManus, Tory councillor Bob Burgess and independent member Robert McKendrick took the petition to give into the council.
In April, the Wishaw Press launched a campaign called for the new council administration formed after the May 4 election to build a new intermediate £3m care home in Wishaw.
Before the election both Labour leader Jim Logue and his SNP counterpart David Stocks signed our petition.
And our campaign has been backed by MP Marion Fellows, SNP Wishaw councillor Fiona Fotherinham, Tory Group leader Meghan Gallacher and Wishaw Tory councillor Bob Burgess.
Carol Anne Foley, chairwoman of Central Wishaw Community Council, said this week: “There were six councillors who accepted our petition that was signed by 1600 people. “It shows the response from the public. “It is not party political and there were representatives there from all parties. “It is about a community facility. “I am grateful to all the councillors. “And it was not just Central Wishaw but also Coltness Community Council.
“The two community councils worked together on this.”
Mrs Foley said the facility is vital for the Wishaw community.
She said: “People need to wait for adaptions to their homes when they come out of hospital. “And a care home can rehabilitate them while their homes are adapted. “We need a care home facility built in Wishaw.” Last month the Wishaw Press reported how there are plans to convert the former Belhaven home into 15 flats.
Council leader Jim Logue insisted he is still committed to an new intermiate care facility in Wishaw.
He added: “However, it’s essential that the shape of this facility and the services it offers are guided by experts.
“Modelling work on the best mix of care across North Lanarkshire continues and when that work is complete we will have a better idea of what is required and any timescales.
“It has always been the case that the Belhaven site was unsuitable for any kind of care facility and it makes complete sense for the site to be used to be part of the e biggest housebuildingg p r o g ramme in a generation in Scotland.”
The council saidd the Belhaven site was s unsuitable for the e construction of a new carere home.
A council spokesmanan said this week: “The he petition will be dealt alt with in due coursese in accordance with th council policy. Essentiali l and di in- depthd h modellingd lli work into the appropriate intermediate services and facilities, carried out by experts, is ongoing. “However, as has been repeatedly made clear, the Belhaven site is unsuitable for any care facility.”