Council submits plans for 'world class' care (From Warrington Guardian)

Council submits plans for 'world class' care

PLANS to build a 'world class' healthcare village in Winsford have been revealed to cope with the rising population of elderly people.

Cheshire County Council has submitted an outline planning application to build the healthcare village on Hambleton Way.

The announcement is part of a scheme costing more than £100milliion to provide an extra 2,000 extra care homes in Cheshire by 2010.

The proposed development in Winsford would provide 98 self contained supported accommodation units, lounge and dining room, recreational facilities, care and administration and car parking.

County councillor Lynn Hardwick said: "The scheme will provide world class standards - fine, affordable accommodation backed by multi discipline care teams living nearby providing 24 hour cover."

The extra care homes would be available to rent, buy or acquire on a co-ownership basis with residents buying part of the property and renting the rest.

The healthcare village has been designed to create a 'balanced community' with one third of the places allocated as an alternative to long term placement, one third for those with health and social care needs and a final third for more able older people.

Clr Hardwick said: "We will be providing the kind of care which is more acceptable to older people and in doing so helping to address the well documented problems caused by the closure of private homes across the county."

The plans have been welcomed by Winsford Town Council although concerns were raised about its design.

Clr Malcolm Gaskill said: "I find this extremely exciting.

"The project will certainly be welcomed but I'm a bit concerned about the design as there doesn't seem to be very much natural light in there."