The needs of our aging population are in the news again and likely to be a hot topic as the election draws closer.
Nick Clegg’s recent announcement that the Lib Dem’s would not be able to offer free personal care for the elderly was a blow for all those concerned about the lack of adequate services for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
The move was criticised by organisations such as Age Concern. Andrew Harrop‚ Head of Public Policy for Age Concern and Help the Aged‚ said: "There’s no doubt that the looming election will be overshadowed by the urgent need to cut the budget deficit‚ but politicians must not lose sight of the care crisis before us."
There is no doubt that all parties are under pressure to cut public spending and services will need to be cut but there is already a shortage of beds in homes for the rapidly ageing population and elderly care provision needs more investment not less.
When you take these factors into account it is clear that the proposed retirement village at Faraday road in Hereford can play an important role in future care provision.
A new planning application was submitted in November 2009 but the council has yet to formally register it, which needs to happen before it can go forward to committee for determination.
The Faraday Road site (a former Sun Valley site) has been empty for years and the local people are very supportive of the proposed plans.
The developer, Bovale, has carried out extensive community liaison and presented their plans at a resident meeting. Those who attended were very supportive and do want to see homes and facilities built for local people.
It seems to me that with so little money in the public purse it is even more important that the private sector is supported and encouraged when they have the funding and the means to provide these much needed facilities and services.
Please join me in helping the residents of Hereford makes their voice heard. Visit the Friends of Faraday Road page on Facebook or follow us on twitter.com/faradayroad.
Thank you,
Carol
18 January 2010
13 January 2010
Guest Post: Support for a retirement village in Hereford
Roy Powell of Hereford writes:
I've read with interest the plans to build a retirement village at Faraday Road Hereford.
A previous application in 2007 received widespread public support but was refused by Herefordshire Council.
One of the reasons for refusal was that the site (which has been vacant and an eyesore for 14 years) was reserved for relocation of business as a result of the ESG proposed development.
This was subsequently corrected at a planning enquiry where senior council officers confirmed that the site was *not crucial* to the development of the ESG (Planning Appeal Decision, Page 3, Paragraph 13).
A second reason given for refusal was that the site was designated employment land.
It entirely escapes my understanding why this application was turned down, when an application for a retirement village - if afforded - will create 145 new permanent full time jobs, and this at a time when our City is in desperate need of employment opportunities.
I can only hope that a more sympathetic approach will be in evidence when the current application is considered.
Roy Powell - roypowellemail@googlemail.com
Thanks Roy, I welcome guest posts about the plans to build a retierment village in Faraday Road from other residents of Hereford - Carol Hanslope - carol.hanslope@googlemail.com
I've read with interest the plans to build a retirement village at Faraday Road Hereford.
A previous application in 2007 received widespread public support but was refused by Herefordshire Council.
One of the reasons for refusal was that the site (which has been vacant and an eyesore for 14 years) was reserved for relocation of business as a result of the ESG proposed development.
This was subsequently corrected at a planning enquiry where senior council officers confirmed that the site was *not crucial* to the development of the ESG (Planning Appeal Decision, Page 3, Paragraph 13).
A second reason given for refusal was that the site was designated employment land.
It entirely escapes my understanding why this application was turned down, when an application for a retirement village - if afforded - will create 145 new permanent full time jobs, and this at a time when our City is in desperate need of employment opportunities.
I can only hope that a more sympathetic approach will be in evidence when the current application is considered.
Roy Powell - roypowellemail@googlemail.com
Thanks Roy, I welcome guest posts about the plans to build a retierment village in Faraday Road from other residents of Hereford - Carol Hanslope - carol.hanslope@googlemail.com
09 December 2009
Faraday Road Retirement Village - support from a care provider
A well respected and established care home provider spoke out this week in support of plans for a retirement village at Faraday Road in Hereford, following a new planning application by developer Bovale.
Roy Hayfield a director at Heritage Manor, a care home provider with more than 15 years experience in the nursing care and residential homes sector welcomed Bovale’s plans, he said: "There is a desperate need for more care facilities of this type in Hereford.
"There are only 17 private care homes with a total of 616 beds within a ten mile radius of Hereford, which is woefully inadequate for the demand that exits.
"Everyone knows that as a nation we are getting older and people are living longer, local councils such as Herefordshire are facing a huge ticking time- bomb and will find themselves in crisis in years to come if they do not start planning more care for the elderly now."
Recent national statistics conclude: by 2026 older people (those aged 50 plus) in the UK, will result in 2.4million more households than there are today, the over 75 age group is growing faster than any other and more than one million people are predicted to suffer from dementia by 2025.
Herefordshire has an older age profile than both the West Midlands and England with 24% of the county’s population being of state retirement age or above, compared to 19% both regionally and nationally.
The proposed retirement village will provide facilities for 207 beds and homes within an attractive and sustainable community with different levels of care that will include assisted living units, a residential care unit and 24 hour care in a nursing home.
Hayfield adds, "The key to our success is that we provide the right environment for residents to be able to lead as independent a life as possible.
"The Faraday Road site is extremely well located on the edge of Hereford to enable residents to integrate with the community and for staff and visitors to have easy access.
"Heritage Manor would welcome the opportunity to work with Bovale on this scheme and offer a range of specialist care solutions to the community. We would also be able to work closely with the local hospitals to deliver training and support for specific areas such as dementia."
Heritage Manor has over 15 years experience in the nursing care and residential home sector with a range of quality retirement villages and care homes across the UK including Worcestershire, Essex and Suffolk.
Roy Hayfield a director at Heritage Manor, a care home provider with more than 15 years experience in the nursing care and residential homes sector welcomed Bovale’s plans, he said: "There is a desperate need for more care facilities of this type in Hereford.
"There are only 17 private care homes with a total of 616 beds within a ten mile radius of Hereford, which is woefully inadequate for the demand that exits.
"Everyone knows that as a nation we are getting older and people are living longer, local councils such as Herefordshire are facing a huge ticking time- bomb and will find themselves in crisis in years to come if they do not start planning more care for the elderly now."
Recent national statistics conclude: by 2026 older people (those aged 50 plus) in the UK, will result in 2.4million more households than there are today, the over 75 age group is growing faster than any other and more than one million people are predicted to suffer from dementia by 2025.
Herefordshire has an older age profile than both the West Midlands and England with 24% of the county’s population being of state retirement age or above, compared to 19% both regionally and nationally.
The proposed retirement village will provide facilities for 207 beds and homes within an attractive and sustainable community with different levels of care that will include assisted living units, a residential care unit and 24 hour care in a nursing home.
Hayfield adds, "The key to our success is that we provide the right environment for residents to be able to lead as independent a life as possible.
"The Faraday Road site is extremely well located on the edge of Hereford to enable residents to integrate with the community and for staff and visitors to have easy access.
"Heritage Manor would welcome the opportunity to work with Bovale on this scheme and offer a range of specialist care solutions to the community. We would also be able to work closely with the local hospitals to deliver training and support for specific areas such as dementia."
Heritage Manor has over 15 years experience in the nursing care and residential home sector with a range of quality retirement villages and care homes across the UK including Worcestershire, Essex and Suffolk.
26 November 2009
Council firmly backs regeneration of Hereford
A news release from Herefordshire Council on 13/11/09 stated:
We believe that Bovale's plans for a retirement village in Faraday Road are in accord with the motion proposed by Council Leader Roger Phillips. The proposed retirement village will create more and better paid jobs as well as future training opportunities in the caring professions. The homes and bed spaces taken up by the new residents will also free up more homes in Hereford for sale.
"Councillors overwhelmingly supported a notice of motion from leader of the council Roger Phillips, stating that the future of Herefordshire depends on creating more and better paid jobs, increasing the number of affordable homes, providing more leisure and shopping and improving infrastructure."
We believe that Bovale's plans for a retirement village in Faraday Road are in accord with the motion proposed by Council Leader Roger Phillips. The proposed retirement village will create more and better paid jobs as well as future training opportunities in the caring professions. The homes and bed spaces taken up by the new residents will also free up more homes in Hereford for sale.
14 November 2009
Bovale fight on
Innovative plans for a much needed retirement village at Faraday Road in Hereford, strongly supported by local residents, were submitted by developers Bovale on 13 November, despite initial rejection by planners.
The proposed elderly living and care facility would offer an attractive alternative to traditional care options for those wishing to live in a supportive but unobtrusive community, and has been designed to meet an increasing need for such accommodation in the area.
It would also improve employment prospects in the city; Bovale estimate the retirement village could create up to 140 new jobs and provide important training opportunities.
Herefordshire has an older age profile than both the West Midlands and England and Wales with 24% of the county’s population being of state retirement age or above, compared to 19% both regionally and nationally.
Herefordshire Council’s own research predicts a 20% rise in the number of retired people living in the county by 2011, which is almost double that expected for this age group in England and Wales. Further research carried out on behalf of Bovale suggests that in Herefordshire there are 14.5 people over the age of 80 for every residential bed available, compared to a national average of 8 for every bed available.
The scheme was turned down two years ago by local planners and at an appeal heard by an independent Inspector at a Public Local Inquiry on the basis that the derelict site, which overlooks Widemarsh Common and is surrounded by residential accommodation on two sides, had been earmarked by the Local Council as employment land.
However, according to Charles Collier of Bovale, the proposed care facility will generate some 140 jobs for care professionals and associated staff, whilst improving the site visually and providing acknowledged social service benefits in terms of accommodation and care for the elderly.
The Inspector agreed that the scheme would be beneficial to the local area at the Public Local Inquiry which was held in April 2007 and since then Bovale has investigated opportunities to site the scheme elsewhere in the town.
Having completed these investigations, the developer has been unable to identify an alternative, viable site and remains convinced of the merits of a care facility at Faraday Road and the plans have therefore been resubmitted.
The proposed elderly living and care facility would offer an attractive alternative to traditional care options for those wishing to live in a supportive but unobtrusive community, and has been designed to meet an increasing need for such accommodation in the area.
It would also improve employment prospects in the city; Bovale estimate the retirement village could create up to 140 new jobs and provide important training opportunities.
Herefordshire has an older age profile than both the West Midlands and England and Wales with 24% of the county’s population being of state retirement age or above, compared to 19% both regionally and nationally.
Herefordshire Council’s own research predicts a 20% rise in the number of retired people living in the county by 2011, which is almost double that expected for this age group in England and Wales. Further research carried out on behalf of Bovale suggests that in Herefordshire there are 14.5 people over the age of 80 for every residential bed available, compared to a national average of 8 for every bed available.
The scheme was turned down two years ago by local planners and at an appeal heard by an independent Inspector at a Public Local Inquiry on the basis that the derelict site, which overlooks Widemarsh Common and is surrounded by residential accommodation on two sides, had been earmarked by the Local Council as employment land.
However, according to Charles Collier of Bovale, the proposed care facility will generate some 140 jobs for care professionals and associated staff, whilst improving the site visually and providing acknowledged social service benefits in terms of accommodation and care for the elderly.
The Inspector agreed that the scheme would be beneficial to the local area at the Public Local Inquiry which was held in April 2007 and since then Bovale has investigated opportunities to site the scheme elsewhere in the town.
Having completed these investigations, the developer has been unable to identify an alternative, viable site and remains convinced of the merits of a care facility at Faraday Road and the plans have therefore been resubmitted.
07 November 2009
13 November - Public Debate in North Heredfordshire
There is an opportunity for those in North Herefordshire to hear the pros and cons of the proposed development.
A Public Debate, starting at 7pm prompt at Weobley’s Village Hall, will hear from Councillor Roger Phillips, Leader of Hereford Council and Jonathan Bretherton, Chief Executive, ESG Herefordshire Ltd who will speak for the development and Councillor Mark Hubbard, Chairman of It’s Our City, and Bob Clay, Secretary of It’s Our City will speak against the proposed plans.
There will be an opportunity for the audience to put forward their questions.
From: It's OUR City!
A Public Debate, starting at 7pm prompt at Weobley’s Village Hall, will hear from Councillor Roger Phillips, Leader of Hereford Council and Jonathan Bretherton, Chief Executive, ESG Herefordshire Ltd who will speak for the development and Councillor Mark Hubbard, Chairman of It’s Our City, and Bob Clay, Secretary of It’s Our City will speak against the proposed plans.
There will be an opportunity for the audience to put forward their questions.
From: It's OUR City!
Friday 13th, 9:50am, Shire Hall
Friday 13th November is an important date in the campaign diary.
We are presenting the “petition so far” to the Chairman of the Council on the steps of the Shire Hall at 10am. We are calling on all our supporters to arrive at 9.50am to show the level of support the campaign has.
We can confirm that all of the shops in Chruch Street will be closing their doors in support of the petition; this is quite a remarkable and powerful message to Herefordshire Council, proving the depth of feeling and the level of support the campaign enjoys amongst the locally owned businesses in Hereford City.
Big notices will be pinned to all of the doors of the closed shops apologising to their customers for any inconvenience and inviting them to join the campaign at the Shirehall. We expect the petition to reach 10,000 names by the time of the presentation which must be one of the biggest petitions presented in Hereford for many years and it’s only been 10 short weeks since the campaign was launched.
From: It's OUR City!
We are presenting the “petition so far” to the Chairman of the Council on the steps of the Shire Hall at 10am. We are calling on all our supporters to arrive at 9.50am to show the level of support the campaign has.
We can confirm that all of the shops in Chruch Street will be closing their doors in support of the petition; this is quite a remarkable and powerful message to Herefordshire Council, proving the depth of feeling and the level of support the campaign enjoys amongst the locally owned businesses in Hereford City.
Big notices will be pinned to all of the doors of the closed shops apologising to their customers for any inconvenience and inviting them to join the campaign at the Shirehall. We expect the petition to reach 10,000 names by the time of the presentation which must be one of the biggest petitions presented in Hereford for many years and it’s only been 10 short weeks since the campaign was launched.
From: It's OUR City!
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