Fresh plans for controversial mental health rehab centre
Nursing home group reveals updated proposal for facility in Chorley, Lancashire
Fresh plans have been unveiled for a controversial new mental health facility in Chorley, Lancashire.
The Stocks Hall Nursing & Care Group has resubmitted a planning application for a 42-bed rehabilitation centre on the former Camelot site in Charnock Richard.
The move follows the withdrawal of previous proposals to convert greenbelt land at Pemberton House Farm. The proposals were shelved after concern was voiced by local residents, mainly due to the specific mental health conditions the unit would be treating.
Under the new application, the Priory-style facility will be 12% smaller than that originally planned, with the number of beds down six from 48. The facility will also no longer treat patients suffering from drug or sexual behavioural issues.
One local resident, who did not want to be named, said: “Aiming to treat 42 patients with a wide variety of mental health conditions in a non-secure unit is dangerous and represents a very large concentration of mentally-ill people in one small village.”
We are now confident that having reduced the size of the facility and treating patients suffering from mental health issues that local people will be more familiar with, such as eating disorders, depression and stress, the proposals will be more accepted by the community
Councillor Paul Leadbetter, deputy leader of the Conservatives on Chorley Council and a ward councillor, added: “At the minute, I’m supporting what residents are asking me to support. It seems the majority of people are opposed to the outline applications.”
Stocks Hall Nursing & Care Group said the centre was an opportunity to redevelop the site, which has been vacant since 2009 and has attracted anti-social behaviour, vandalism and criminal activity, and deliver a sustainable development which had been sensitively designed to complement and reflect the character of Charnock Richard.
It would also create around 50 jobs, including carers, therapists, housekeeping and administrative staff, providing potential employment opportunities for local people.
Gareth Jones, on behalf of the group, said: “We recognise that a number of local residents expressed concern regarding the previous proposals for Pemberton House Farm, so we’ve spent considerable time and effort over the past few months reviewing our plans, in addition to selective treatments offered.
“We are now confident that having reduced the size of the facility and treating patients suffering from mental health issues that local people will be more familiar with, such as eating disorders, depression and stress, the proposals will be more accepted by the community.”
A decision on the application is due later in the summer.
