Ponteland care home change waits on meeting

THE planned demolition of a care home for disabled youngsters in Northumberland has been put on hold.
Doubt rose over the future of Ponteland Cottage & Rural Enterprise Village after plans emerged to build 54 private homes onthe site.
Campaigners concerned at what might happen to the 46 disabled people currently cared for at the village have now won a stay of execution after a planning committee refused to condemn it.

Councillors on the council's Area West Planning Committee deferred a decision until after they have had chance to visit the site themselves.

Ponteland Town Councillor David Butler, who has been campaigning to keep the facility, said: "We are pleased that we got the site visit because it gives us the opportunity to speak to the county councillors on site.
"The village is very popular and people who are there now would have to find alternative premises if the application goes ahead. Another problem would be traffic congestion in Ponteland. It is already bad in the village."
The 26-year-old safe haven, on North Road, includes its own cafe, restaurant and shop, and was opened by Princess Alexandra in 1984.
Despite its importance, plans emerged to replace it with private housing, including 20% affordable housing, plus a 10-patient dementia unit.
Self Unlimited, which runs the facility, says with funding raised from redeveloping the site it would work to find residents, some of whom have been there since the 1984 opening, suitable alternative accommodation. It has presented a list of options elsewhere in Northumberland.
Campaigners worried about the fate of the current residents say the rebuild would also cause impossible traffic problems in Ponteland.
Erik Whitehouse, executive director of Operations (North) for Self Unlimited, said: "The site is not sustainable for the future for the people who live there.
"The vast majority are supportive of the changes and so are the family members involved. So is Northumberland Social Services. Northumberland desperately needs a new dementia unit. To enable us to do that we need to redevelop the site."
At the planning committee meeting, Coun Anne Dale said: "Because it's such a big development, and with a big change, I suggest a site investigation."
Source: Journal Live

Care Village plans to expand

PROPOSALS have been put forward to improve facilities at a Ponteland care village for people with learning disabilities.

Self Unlimited has made a planning application for 54 residential homes and a new Down's Syndrome and dementia unit at its north east base in North Road.

With the adjacent Northumberland Police Headquarters in line for a refurbishment allowing part of its site to be available for housing, the charity was able to assess possible requirements for the future.

Regional Manager Polly Browning said: "We remain committed to making a real and lasting difference in the lives of the people we support, both now and in the future.

"Our charity has always welcomed the relationships that have been forged with our neighbours over the years."
It is our aim for this to continue and for a real, inclusive community to be established on site at North Road."

The dwellings, which would include ten designated for social housing, would not only provide new homes for local families, but also for some of the people it supports who may not wish to move away from the area.

The new purpose-built facility would provide care for the growing number of people with Down's Syndrome who are diagnosed with dementia.

Self Unlimited is the operating name of CARE (Cottage and Rural Enterprises), which was established in 1966 to provide services for adults with learning disabilities to enable them to live as fulfilled and independent a life as possible.

Source: Morpeth Herald