CONTROVERSIAL plans for a children’s care home in an isolated rural area are set to come before Warrington planning chiefs – with a recommendation for approval.
Planning officers say proposals to convert a five-bedroom family home in Holly Bush Lane, Rixton-with-Glazebrook are acceptable.
But a number of local residents have lodged objections and there are also objections from Rixton-with-Glazebrook Parish Council and from borough councillor Rob Tynan.
Police have also expressed reservations. They say the care company seeking permission would need to be careful about the sort of children they placed in the property because of its isolated position and local road conditions.
Most of the objections relate to the possibility of increased traffic on a narrow, unadopted lane where there are no pavements or street lighting.
But objectors also point out that Holly Bush Lane is off the busy A57 close to an accident “hot spot”.
The application is to change the use of a large house standing in its own grounds into a care home for up to four children.
There would also be three care staff and a manager on-site, with two care staff on duty overnight.
The applicants say there is parking for around 10 cars in a spacious gravel courtyard area and the property has it own entrance through private gates leading to secluded private grounds.
Children living at the property would be unable to live at home due to unfortunate circumstances such as abuse and neglect. The care provided would be “as close to a family environment as possible.”
The children would cook meals with the adults, go on activities of an evening, such as cinema trips, restaurants, days out, etc, and have the childhood they deserved. They would be encouraged to help around the house with chores, making meals and gardening, etc. They would be in the 8-18 age range.
There would be no material change made to the property which would retain its current layout and use as a family home. There would be no increase in traffic and staff would be recruited locally.
