Controversial site chosen for new mental health unit
HEALTH bosses have chosen a controversial Lancaster site as their number one choice for a multi-million pound mental health unit in North Lancashire.
Board members from Lancashire Care NHS Trust voted to back the greenfield Royal Albert Fields site, in Ashton Road, as the favoured location for the purpose-built facility at a meeting in Accrington, today, Thursday.
A trust spokesman said: "In reaching this decision the trust has given careful consideration to a number of factors.
"Site surveys, site conditions, planning advice, detailed financial information, public transport, feedback given at the public meetings and responses from the general public have been subject to detailed analysis.
"The trust is now in a position to move onto the next stage of the process, which involves applying for planning permission, the drawing up of detailed plans and deciding how the new units will be financed.
"The trust is keen to continue to involve local people and will be holding meetings in the communities where a new unit is planned."
The decision will anger residents from the Royal Albert Cottages, whose houses are overlooked by the NHS-owned land the trust wants to build on.
They set up a group to oppose the location and said the health chiefs should instead redevelop Lancaster's existing mental health unit at Ridge Lea, off Quernmore Road.
However, any application from the trust to build on the Royal Albert Fields is likely to be difficult to push through.
Earlier this month, Andrew Dobson, Lancaster City Council's head of planning, wrote to bosses to tell them they must explain why they want to built on greenfield land rather than revamp Ridge Lea.
Coun Chris Coates - who sits on the city council's planning committee - has also opposed the plans.
A planning application is now likely to be drawn up and submitted later this year.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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