Concerns over bid to buy property to house children cared for by Northumberland County Council
More than a dozen objections have been lodged over plans to change a private residence near Morpeth into a supported home for young people.
If the bid by Northumberland County Council is approved, a team of staff would look after four children in the care of the local authority at Fairwinds off Ulgham Lane – a road that runs between an area east of Longhirst Village and the village of Ulgham.
The council says in the application that it acknowledges “introducing a supported placement in a residential area may raise questions” so it will “ensure clear communication, uphold high standards of care and respect community value”.
However, people living nearby have raised a range of concerns about the suitability of the location.
An objector stated: “Is this really the ideal setting for these children? What is there for these children on Ulgham Lane?
“There are no child/young person facilities of interest. There are no footpaths alongside the surprisingly busy lane for walking on. There is no lighting, no buses and there is no right to roam on surrounding agricultural and private land.
“What happens when these children inevitably become bored? How are they going to spend their free time and will they be constantly supervised?”
Another objector states: “The lack of communication from the applicant and the planning office with the local community has already caused antagonism, so the community is now unlikely to be welcoming.
“The size of the property may be suitable. However, it is by no means suitable for the location and proximity of essential services.”
The information provided by the council in the application form includes the following: “The purpose (of this application) is to provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment that promotes the children’s development and well-being, while enabling integration into the local community.
“As corporate parents, we have a statutory and moral responsibility to safeguard and support the children in our care.
“We acknowledge that introducing a supported placement in a residential area may raise questions. To address this, we will ensure clear communication, uphold high standards of care and respect community values.
“Our care provision is regularly monitored by Ofsted and all our homes in Northumberland are rated ‘Good’, reflecting our commitment to quality and professionalism.”