Residents object to dementia unit at Telford care home

The plans at Roden Hall Care Home in Roden, will go before Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

The home was told it needs to improve after inspectors found residents were “at risk of potential harm” earlier this year.

It was rated as “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission after an unannounced visit on January 23 and 24. The report said the nursing home is not always consistently safe, effective, caring, responsive or well led.

The application has been made by Rotherwood Health Care for the unit with associated parking and landscaping in the grounds of Roden Hall Nursing Home, which provides care for up to 45 older people.

The current occupants of the hall nursing home would move into the new purpose-built facility and the existing care home would be vacated.

The accommodation would be separated between two floors allowing the subdivision of elderly frail care and dementia care.

There would be 32 en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor with reception, a cafe/communal area and kitchen/lounge and dining areas.

The first floor would provide 34 en-suite bedrooms, a visitor lounge, hair salon/spa, kitchen/lounge and dining area with a communal balcony.

The car parking spaces would be increased from 35 to 65.

The full planning application says: "Roden Hall is no longer suited to meet modern care standards for nursing and palliative care.

"The alterations and refurbishments necessary to meet current standards are both infeasible and unviable propositions.

"If a replacement care home cannot be provided on this site, the existing home would close and Roden Hall sold for alternative uses."

The report states that the plans would "safeguard" a care facility for up to 45 existing residents and provide employment for 62 members of staff, but would also provide care for an extra 21 residents and provide an extra 30 jobs.

Ercall Magna Parish Council has objected to the plans as there is a concern that a care home of that size would not be suitable for the rural location, and would “change the make-up of Roden”.

A number of residents have objected to the proposals.

Richard Hartshorn, of Roden Lane, said in his objection that “this development is far too big for the area” and "will in no way give elderly people a good life in their final years when they should have lots to do and be stimulated to keep them active in retirement".

Resident Anne Leech, of Roden Lane, objected on the grounds of “loss of privacy, noise pollution,light pollution, road safety, village infrastructure, and poor public transport”.

Telford & Wrekin planning committee has been recommended to delegate powers to council officers to approve the plans once developers agree to certain conditions including putting £5,000 towards footpath improvements.