A look at Whittingham residents’ views on living near Guild Lodge, a secure unit, and its impact on their Lancashire village.
The hospital closed back in 1995, and Guild Park opened on the grounds in 1999. Now, Guild Lodge is there, a secure unit for adults with mental health needs, some sent there by courts. The site is huge at 65 acres and has been used for years. Whittingham and Goosnargh Cricket Club is also there. Homes England owns all the land except the NHS part.
The NHS official, Phil Horner, spoke of public access, stating the grounds are private property. He is happy a community is growing there, and says people can use paths. He hopes that they respect the patients’ needs, as this use has been possible for years now. Some locals worried when the hospital started a Parkrun last year.
The Parkrun is a weekly 5k run for patients and staff. Some patients also get unsupervised leave, letting them visit the village alone, but only after a risk check. One dad said he’s not comfortable with his daughters there and wouldn’t want them near it alone. He knows the patients have mental health issues, so he feels a bit cautious about it. Patients on leave often go to the local shop.
Steve lives nearby, in a former doctor’s house, and rarely sees patients. He says they don’t enter his cul-de-sac, and if they do, they’re quickly escorted away. He says it was part of the original agreement. A neighbor, Sue, feels “a bit concerned” sometimes but thinks the site is managed well. Still, she said a crowd running near her would be intimidating, which could happen while walking her dog.
June Parker has lived in Whittingham since 1972 and used to work at the hospital. She now walks her son’s dogs on the grounds and says her only issue is litter from patients, which she picks up regularly. The local shop is near Guild Park’s entrance and gets lots of business from patients.
The shop owner says she has had no problems and that the hospital was in Whittingham first. It was there before the village grew. Dave Hall, the Parish Council chair, notes the village has had a mental hospital for over 100 years. He stated they have never had any real issues with patients, as for the most part, they are well-managed.
He said the village supports them as long as they are well-managed. He wishes to work with them as a council and wants to deal with issues rather than confront them. Police sometimes say there has been an issue with someone. Other than that, they have “no problem with it.” The old hospital site will become housing.
The NHS Trust runs Guild Lodge, and they said they do risk checks before Parkrun. Phil Horner is also the Parkrun race director and says it happens every Saturday. He says it’s great for staff and patients, improving their fitness, giving them a chance to be outside, and is an inclusive activity for mental health and recovery. The parkrun is not open to the public. Staff must bring their work ID. The route is all on NHS land. One part is near a road. Marshals are there for safety, and helps with traffic, if any. Detailed risk checks happen for patients. This ensures their safety during the run. If needed, staff goes with them all the time.