‘I’m delighted it has been confirmed that Kniveden Project will reopen’
THE future of a Moorlands project which supports people with mental health issues was debated at last week’s meeting of Staffordshire County Council.
Fears have been raised over the past few weeks that the Kniveden Project based at The Mount in Leek was to be ended due to Covid-19, and also after Staffordshire Moorlands District Council adopted their Local Plan, which involves building hundreds of houses on The Mount.
However, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust last week confirmed to the Post & Times that the Kniveden Project would reopen once the coronavirus pandemic ‘abates’ and the site can operate safely.
At last week’s meeting of the county council, Leek representative Councillor Charlotte Atkins, submitted a question to Councillor Johnny Mcmahon, who is the cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing on the authority.
Ms Atkins said: “I am grateful to the cabinet member for the interest he has shown in the Kniveden Partnership, The Mount, Leek. I recognise that the site owned by the county council is to be developed for housing.”
Councillor Atkins then asked Mr Mcmahon to clarify whether:
▶ The site has been sold
▶ If the North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust (NSCHNT) has been asked to vacate the site
▶ What NSCHNT intentions are for the future of this vital mental health service at the present site or elsewhere in the area
▶ If a formal agreement is to be put in place between the county council and NSCHNT to allow the service to be reopened on the site before it is redeveloped for housing
In reply, Mr Mcmahon said that the site had not been sold.
He said: “The site is earmarked for sale as part of the council’s estates’ strategy, but we do not expect to sell it imminently.
“If and when the Kniveden site is sold we have offered to assist NSCHT with finding alternative local options for their service users; we would also provide support should they wish to continue to operate their service at a different location in the area.
“We have not asked NSCHT to vacate the site. NSCHT have yet to indicate whether they intend to continue to provide the service.
“The council has asked that if NSCHT wish to continue to use the
Kniveden site then we enter into a formal arrangement in order to give us appropriate cover for insurance purposes.
“The council has not indicated that we would charge rent and have no intention of doing so.”
Speaking to the Post & Times this week, Ms Atkins said: “I am delighted that Combined Healthcare has now confirmed that the Kniveden Project will reopen.
“But it is still hiding behind the Covid-19 pandemic despite arrangements being in place, but not yet signed off by a manager, to allow social distancing on this vast site.
“I have established from the county council that the Kniveden site has not been sold and it does not have to be vacated at this time. Now Combined Healthcare has finally agreed to formalise the rent free lease arrangement with the county council to give them appropriate insurance cover.
“Since I helped establish the project 19 years ago, the welfare of the clients has always been at the centre of the work of Kniveden.
“This service has never been more needed. The Covid-19 pandemic has created widespread mental health distress and the recognition that nature, gardening, community and creative activities are hugely beneficial in dealing with that deep anxiety. This is exactly what Kniveden provides for its clients. It is a therapeutic community run by professional staff who through their work have literally saved lives.
“It is vital that their work continues now because we are facing a second wave of the pandemic during the winter months when it will be even more difficult for those in mental health distress to cope.”