NEIGHBOURS have voiced their concerns after plans to build a huge care home in Portsmouth were approved by the city council’s cabinet.
People in East Lodge Park, Farlington, say if the 60-bed residential home for people with dementia now gets planning permission, it will cause traffic problems.
The cabinet voted in favour of the development near East Lodge Recreation Ground – which will include a rehabilitation and respite unit for people with disabilities – at a full cabinet meeting.
Now it must go through the planning procedure, which would involve consulting local people.
Ken Surrey, 70, who lives with his wife May, 62, in East Lodge Park, said: ‘This is going to cause so much traffic. I don’t think the site is big enough for something of this size.
‘I don’t understand why this would be considered a good site because there are hardly any shops here.’
Resident Helen Trevithick, 29, said: ‘The question is whether the roads can cope with the increased flow of traffic that will come through.
‘I understand that there is a need for residential homes but there are already facilities of that nature on Havant Road.’
The facility is part of a £6m scheme to bring residential care in the city up to date.
It will replace two existing homes – Edinburgh House and Hilsea Lodge – which have fallen below standards.
Designs are in the early stages and it is not expected to be built until 2015.
Councillor Leo Madden, the city council’s cabinet member for health and social care, said: ‘Protecting and supporting the city’s most vulnerable residents is a priority for the council.
‘Of course, we recognise changing facilities for vulnerable people is unsettling, and we’ll be consulting with residents, other service users, relatives and staff.
‘The East Lodge scheme is at a very early stage and has yet to go through the planning process, which would involve consultation with local people.’
As part of the scheme, Vanguard Centre for Independence, Cosham, which provides day services for adults with disabilities, could become a replacement site for Cosham Health Centre.
The decision on the home will be made before the end of the year.
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