New Alloa care home plans get the go-ahead despite concerns

A STATE-of-the-art care home earmarked for land at Alloa Park has been given the go-ahead by council planners.
  Inverness based Meallmore Ltd – which markets itself as one of Scotland’s leading providers of nursing and social care – will run the 62-bed care home.

The firm already runs several homes up and down the country from Inverness and Fraserburgh, to Edinburgh and Greenock. It already runs two homes in Central Scotland – Airth based Airthrey Care and Ivybank House in Falkirk.
 
The two-story, 5010sq. development in Alloa has been designed specifically to meet new government regulations due to come into force later this year. Tillicoultry architect Bracewell Stirling Consultants, hope builders will be on site in the summer, subject to the grant of building warrants. 
 
Architect Sam Sweeney, a partner at Bracewell Stirling told the Wee County News:  “We hope to get building as soon as possible. But we can’t get things underway until the building warrants are clear. All going well I would hope to be on site by the summer.
 
“We are pleased to be providing this state-of-the-art care home which will comply with new regulations due to come into force later this year.”
 
Clackmannanshire Council’s planning department received no objections to the proposed development, although its social services department did question the necessity for a care home of that scale in South East Alloa.
 
However, Meallmore Ltd maintains a commitment to the highest standards of residential care, and anticipates a home that will benefit the Wee County.   
 
A statement on the company’s website reads: “Although most of Meallmore Ltd.’s homes cater for elderly adults with general frailty, they can also meet the needs of people with a wide range of medical conditions.
 
Several of the homes specialise in mental health, acquired brain injury and learning disability among other conditions.
 
“Meallmore Ltd.’s commitment to providing the highest level of service is underpinned by the quality assurance frameworks in place. The company is accredited with achieving the ISO 9001 (Healthmark) status. This is an internationally recognised quality assurance certification and Meallmore Ltd has retained this status for more than 8 years. It is also an approved Investor in People centre. Currently Meallmore Ltd. is working towards the awarding of Hospitality Assured certification, guaranteeing continued improvements in its services provision.”
 
Grahame Blair, Clackmannanshire council’s  Director of Services to People, said: “Having considered the planning issues involved, this application was approved under delegated powers.
 
“Whether or not the care home will be used by the council’s social services is not a planning consideration.
 
“The establishment of a new private care home in Alloa will bring additional choice to residents in the area if their needs required a care home placement.”