Council officers back care home plans

By Staff Reporter

Last updated 11:43, Friday, 08 August 2008

PLANS to build a 60-bed residential care home in Cockermouth will go before Allerdale councillors on Tuesday.

The proposal for the care home, in Europe Way, has been lodged by G and J Sneddon.

If approved by Allerdale Council’s development panel, it will be built next to the Travelodge, just off the A66.

Officers have recommended that panel members approve the scheme, which has been backed by Cockermouth town council.

One letter of objection has been sent to the council by a care home owner who said that if the proposal went ahead, it would result in over-provision which would lead to pressure on staff.

Cumbria County Council’s social care department said that there was a limited market for a nursing home, but developers would “probably have to go beyond a seven-minute drive to fill it and draw business from neighbouring towns.”

The National Health Service said the bed numbers would probably exceed the needs of the town but the population attached to doctors’ practices was much higher at about 16,500.

But it was concerned that building more residential homes would become “a self-fulfilling prophecy rather than looking for alternatives like supporting people at home”.

However, officers have recommended that Allerdale councillors should give the care home the go-ahead when they meet.