Skelmersdale care home plan sparks concerns from police, neighbors, and council due to safety and resource impact.
Police have worries about the new place. It is near three other care homes, and a bus stop nearby might help kids run away. The area could have more crime.
Environmental health has safety concerns too. They mentioned fire safety and building upkeep. Neighbors have shared their concerns as well.
Lancashire County Council also has concerns. Many agency-run homes exist, but they don’t house many local children. This raises some big questions regarding the necessity of another one.
The home would house up to four children, ages ten to seventeen. Two staff would always be there to help, with ten staff rotating, caring for them. The kids are vulnerable, often from neglect.
The county council doesn’t support this plan. Officials say Lancashire has many homes already; too many do not house local children. This puts strain on local services like schools and impacts staffing, they feel.
Some homes closed due to staff shortages, while others faced restrictions from Ofsted. Lancashire has many agency beds for kids, but few locals use those beds. Many Lancashire kids live outside the county. Finding homes with enough staff is hard in surrounding areas.
Officials say this company did not talk with them. They need to understand the plan better first, as the staffing seemed low for complex needs. Also, the county needs to know the cost. The council wants providers that work with them collaboratively.
The county feels cooperation is important here. They want providers to truly help locals. The company has not spoken with them yet, making them doubt the commitment here. Planning officers advise rejecting the application.