Elderly home residents will not be forced to move (From The Advertiser Series)

Elderly home residents will not be forced to move

2:19pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News

RESIDENTS of a home for elderly people which is set to be demolished to create 52 extra flats will not be forced to move.

Concerns had mounted over whether residents of Cherry Garth residential home in Chapel Street, Sowerby, who want to live in the extra care development would have to face two moves while the extra care facility and new public library were built.

Councillors said it had become unclear if the development could be built in phases to allow the residents to move straight from the old building into the new one, following a larger scheme to create a centre that would also feature Lambert Hospital services and a doctors’ surgery being abandoned.

Extra care accommodation, which is being promoted by the Government, aims to bridge the gap between sheltered housing and residential care by allowing residents to remain in their own home alongside care and support.

At a meeting of Thirsk Town Council, Councillor Gareth Dadd said: “There was a fear when the larger development did not transpire that we would be facing some of our eldely residents having to be decamped elsewhere while the building took place.

“I am pleased to say that with the scheme that has been approved we should have phased build so there will be no need for any elderly person to be moved out to move back in.

“There is nothing so sure that our elderly population deserve this sort of facility and for too long we have been dillying and dallying and now we have got the opportunity to deliver it and deliver it we will.”

A sod cutting ceremony will take place at the site on March 5, before building work starts.