RESIDENTS have raised concerns over proposals to expand a care home for children with special needs due to ongoing daily noise and disturbance caused by staff cars.
As well as providing a home for three children, residents on Isherwood Close, Fearnhead say the premises is also being used as an office, training centre and overnight accommodation for several staff.
On Monday evening this week, a delegation of residents from Isherwood Close, representing almost the entire Isherwood / Wasley Close estate in Fearnhead, were invited by Councillor Sue Emery (Chair) to present their concerns at the monthly Parish Council Meeting.
The delegation was very keen to make clear that all residents in the estate appreciate the need for the care of young people with problems such as those accommodated in Isherwood Close; residents’ objections are purely about the totally inappropriate location of this particular home.
Residents say they are very grateful to Councillors Graham Friend, Diana Friend, and Sue Emery who have all formally added their own objections to the planning application to expand the care home.
All councillors and other participants at the meeting were very supportive, and various further actions were agreed as to how the residents’ case can be strengthened even more.
A spokesperson for the Isherwood / Wasley Close residents explained at the meeting “This photo illustrates just ONE of the many problems the care home creates; it’s used as an office, a training centre, a meeting centre, overnight accommodation for several staff (not just the two resident carers the original planning application promised) and staff cars are constantly parked in multiple positions across the estate causing daily inconvenience and annoyance for residents. Furthermore, and even worse, it also causes noise and disturbance, including at night. The many objections in the online planning application provide far more detail, this is just a brief summary.
“These are the problems created by the current scenario. Goodness knows how much worse it would be if this expansion was approved !”
Local Cllr. Sue Emery said: “As far as the Parish is concerned we have every sympathy with our residents and we will do everything that we can to find an amicable solution to this problem. However, we are aware that there is a need for children and young people to be looked after and cared for. Our hope is to find a way forward that will benefit all concerned.”
A Planning Statement prepared by Aida McManus on behalf of Esland Care says the application involves a change of use of a five-bedroomed residential dwelling to a small care home for three children and the formation of additional parking.
Esland Group operates care homes for children throughout England and wishes to use this property as a home for three children and 5 staff members, two of which would sleep at the home overnight. Esland is a leading UK provider of residential childcare, education and therapeutic services for children who have experienced trauma and significant unrest in their lives, providing a place of safety and stability which the child can utilise to build meaningful connections and positive relationships.
The children Esland looks after are aged between 8-18 years old. All children undertake a comprehensive assessment programme before being placed in a home and are accompanied at all times by at least one of carer. The management of the home provides a secure and stable family care environment (with the intention of providing an environment akin to a typical residential home) for young people, in order to ensure the child retains a positive perspective in relation to family life, enhancing their own future lives in the process and altering any alternative patterns of behaviour which they have experienced in their childhood to date.
Community relations are extremely important to the company, and managers maintain regular contact with the local community in order to ensure the home is an asset within the community.
The application site lies on the southern side of Isherwood Close which is a cul-de-sac on a large residential estate. There is a footpath leading to Enfield Park Road to the east of the property which has bus stops in both directions. The property is a large five-bedroomed detached dwelling, with a substantial garden and the provision of 4 on-site parking spaces. The planning application seeks to change the use of the residential dwelling to a children’s home for three children with five staff and a Manager.
No internal alterations are proposed, and the only external alteration is the formation of additional parking.
The applicants say the provision of specialist care to be provided within a family environment for children is a social benefit which will help them to grow into well-adjusted adults and the best person they can become. The proposal will contribute to meeting the Council’s specialist housing requirements through this facility. The proposed change of use would secure the continued use of this care home whilst ensuring the children are cared for in a safe environment.
The proposed use is also an employment opportunity that will continue to help support the future growth of the area and contribute positively to the local economy. Operation of a shift pattern and car sharing will minimise unnecessary traffic movements to and from the property by reducing the need to travel and be more sustainable whilst reducing the carbon footprint of the business. The proximity to local services and facilities will ensure that the occupiers continue to enhance and contribute to maintaining the vitality of the local community and economy by supporting local facilities.
The application is due to be considered by Warrington Borough Council planners under delegated powers.
