Update on controversial plans for children's home in Poulton
“We’ve refused others with much smaller gardens but this one does lends itself to a home.”
Controversial plans to open a children’s home in Poulton have been given the go ahead.
An application was submitted to Wyre’s planners for the change of use of a detached house on Blackpool Road to a children’s home for up to three children aged 8 to 17, one manager and up to three carers.
Applicant Wayne Lamb, of Transcend Care, spoke at Wyre’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday and said the young occupants would be local to Lancashire and that the care firm was highly-rated for the standard of care it delivered.
The application was recommended for approval by the planning case officer.
However, at the time the planning officer’s report was compiled, some 14 public objections were received by the planning department.
These raised concerns such as evidence of an oversupply of children’s homes in the area, a concentration of children’s homes within a mile of the application site, highway safety concerns and concerns that the applicant has not demonstrated that there would be no adverse impact.
The application was presented before before Wyre’s planning committee on Wednesday September 2 at the request of Tithebarn ward member, Cllr Lesley McKay, citing concerns regarding the impact of the development on residential amenity, highways and parking.
Cllr McKay was unable to attend the meeting but her case was presented by Breck ward member, Cllr Peter Le Marinel.
Lancashire County Council Children’s services were consulted and confirmed that they objected to the application as there was not a local need for this provision.
Cllr Le Marinel told the meeting: “Lancashire county Council has objected and says there is no local need for this.“If there is no local need, it means children will be coming from across the country. It is not acceptable to take children far away from their homes, separated from their families.”
The councillor also pointed to health and safety risks posed by the traffic on busy Blackpool Road at peak times.
Wayne Lamb, the applicant, said: “This is a detached five-bedroom house, in a wonderful area to grow up in. It will give local children a good chance to live in the community in a normal family home.”
Committee member Cllr Stuart Fielding said: “Here we go again. The county authority says there is no need here, so why not go to where the market is?
“It’s apparent to me that some companies are abusing the planning process to meet the bottom line for profit, so I say no.”
But Cllrs Claire Rimmer and Mary Belshaw challenged the county county’s notion of local need, with Cllr Belshaw adding : “I know kids in my area desperately in need of somewhere safe.”
Committee Chairman, Cllr Richard Rendell, added: “The property lends itself to a children’s home – we’ve refused others with much smaller gardens but this one does lends itself to a home.”
Stephen Smith, Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control, added: “Each application must be assessed on its own merits.”
The application was approved by a comfortable majority.