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Reporting local life since 1854
Friday, July 22, 2011
PLEASE WHISKERS AWAY! SEE PAGE 7
37p Picture: Mark Scott
Funding will create 390 new properties to ease demand
£108m TO BUILD ELDERLY HOMES BY ALEX CAMPBELL
alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
THREE retirement villages are to be built in Stoke-on-Trent to tackle spiralling demand for elderly homes after a £108 million Government cash boost. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is launching a city-wide transformation of care for older residents by building 390 self-contained apartments at three sites. Accommodation for about 800 residents aged 55 and over will be provided, funded through a private finance initiative (PFI). The multi-million pound investment over 25 years will see: ■ Accommodation for up to 350 residents in 175 units on Holdcroft playing fields, in Holdcroft Road, Abbey Hulton;
■ 135 units on the site of the former Westcliffe Hospital, in Turnhurst Road, Chell, which is currently being demolished; ■ 80 units at Consett Road, Blurton, on the site of the disused former Blurton Farm Deport and Brookwood care home; ■ Restaurants, community shops, gym facilities and communal lounges at all three sites to create villages. Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It’s a wonderful achievement for the city and represents major investment. It will not only provide housing for vulnerable older people, but also contribute to the regenMAJOR BOOST: Ruth Rosenau.
eration of the three areas by generating opportunities for business and employment. “People who live in these developments will have their own front doors and lead normal lives, but they have the support, the facilities and the community there if they want it.” The city council said demand for accommodation for older residents is growing each year and much of the sheltered housing is unsuitable. An assessment of the city’s housing demand found Stoke-on-Trent could need up to 1,000 homes in the next ten years. But the scheme looked to have stalled when the Government delayed it pending an assessment of its value. John Davis, chairman of the North Staffordshire Pensioners’ Convention, said: “This is exactly the sort of accommodation we need. We have an ageing
population, but people want to remain active and live independently and these villages allow that.” Each site will include full-time care workers and community facilities like hairdressers. Most of the units will be two-bedroomed apartments aimed at couples. All three sites are already designated for development and the council is now inviting bidders to build and manage the sites. The council’s preferred partner will be announced in 2013 with the first properties available in 2014. Under the PFI scheme, the council will contract private sector firms to build and manage the homes. The authority will fund this for 25 years after which the homes will be transferred into its ownership.
What do you think about the plans? Email us at letters@thesentinel.co.uk
PAGE 2
MPs claim over £900k expenses MPs in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire were paid more than £900,000 under Parliament’s new system of expenses. The money, handed out between May 2010 and May 2011, went to cover the cost of MPs’ accommodation, travel, constituency office and staff. The figures are the first released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, set up to oversee a tougher allowances regime. Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley was paid £113,076, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt claimed £108,951, and Rob Flello, MP for the south of the city, received £111,784. Newcastle MP Paul Farrelly claimed £125,550. Staffordshire Moorlands MP Karen Bradley was paid £105,454 and her Stone counterpart Bill Cash £122,730. Meanwhile Crewe MP Edward Timpson received £111,969 and Fiona Bruce, Congleton’s representative, got £87,164. Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy claimed £125,110. Figures show Mr Cash and Mr Farrelly both employed their wives.
Lessons learnt SOCIAL services leaders have stressed improvements have been made to their systems after a case review revealed how three adopted siblings suffered at the hands of their new family. See Page 6
Homes battle RESIDENTS have lodged objections to plans to build 200 homes on farm land. Cheshire East Council will meet to discuss the proposals for Congleton next week. See Page 16
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Tickets and goodies for Cars 2: See Page 22
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