Newcastle care home Allendale House to stop treating ill pensioners
FAMILIES are set to win their fight to stop a residential home being converted into a day care centre.
Highways officers have warned turning Allendale House, in Newcastle, into a day centre for adults will cause traffic problems.
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CAMPAIGN: Allendale House, in Newcastle.
Proprietor Marcia Anderson wants to provide a centre for young adults suffering from physical disabilities or moderate learning difficulties at the Milehouse Lane building.
She was inspired to try to start the venture following uncertainty over the future of Blackfriars Day Centre, which had to leave its Bucknall base earlier this year, and is attended by her son.
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The day centre would replace the existing home which has room for 17 elderly residents but has been hit by competition from rival operators.
Now members of Newcastle Borough Council's planning committee are expected to reject the application at a meeting tonight.
Staffordshire County Council's highways department has argued that the proposed development has failed 'to make adequate provision for the parking of vehicles'.
The centre would offer 15 car parking spaces which would be booked in advance. Users would be dropped off by minibus at 9am and collected at 4pm. An additional Friday evening session would run from 6pm until 9.30pm with overnight respite care over the weekend.
But a plot of land intended for use as a car park opposite the home is currently gated off and has not been used for 10 years.
Eighteen residents have signed a petition fighting the change of use.
They say neighbours already struggle to park because of staff and visitors using Allendale House.
In a letter to the council, the residents state: "Vehicles have been parked across, and in very close proximity to, residents' driveways and since this is an extremely busy road it can be very difficult, as well as dangerous, getting on and off the highway.
"Where people do not have driveways they can return home to find that they are unable to park outside, or even close to their properties."
Parent Tahira Mirza, of Milehouse Lane, said: "The reason for my objection is traffic.
"Wolstanton High School is about 150 yards down the road and the traffic in the mornings and at around 2.45pm is horrendous. I believe allowing this application will make it worse."
Paul Gibson, who also lives in Milehouse Lane, added: "Access to our property for our disabled son has often been impossible due to visitors to Allendale House."
The council's planning meeting is at the civic centre, in Merrial Street, Newcastle, at 7pm tonight.
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