Calls To Block Mental Health Clinic

Fears over patients escaping from a proposed new mental health clinic have led to calls for it to be blocked. Planning bosses at Preston Council have recommended the authority’s planning committee to reject plans to turn the former luxury home at Ashfield House in Lea into a psychiatric clinic.

A report to the committee, which meets today to discuss the plans, outlines the impact the clinic would have on traffic and protected trees in the area, and its failure to meet renewable energy planning requirements, had led to the refusal recommendation.

It adds the clinic would have an “adverse impact on residential amenity from possible escaped inmates and increased dangers in locality” and adds the clinic would lead to “increased levels of fear factor” among local people.

It states: “The scheme has not demonstrated there will be no adverse impacts on the character and appearance of the area, traffic and highway safety, trees and amenity of surrounding areas.”

The application to build a 20-bedroom clinic to cater for 15 to 20-year-olds, with 19 staff, was submitted by London-based Covenant Healthcare Rehabilitation.

Five letters of objection from local people and a formal objection from Lea and Cottam Parish Council have been received. Lancashire County Council highways department said parts of the application did not meet its current guidelines and recommended refusal of the plans.

The once-luxurious five-bedroom mansion, which cost £1.5m to build, had been derelict and vandalised since its former owner was declared bankrupt. It became structurally unsound after a fire and was demolished.

Covenant Healthcare were unavailable for comment.