New plan for Aberchirder care home

A LAST-minute lifeline emerged at the weekend to renovate the Rose Innes care home in Aberchirder. Just days after councillors deferred a decision on a plan to replace it with affordable houses, a possible white knight emerged from the shadows, in the form of well-known Aberchirder businessman Robert ‘Bingo’ Bremner, a former provost of the town.

A consortium headed by him is coming up with a plan to retain the building as a care home, and provide what are described as major new community care facilities within it.

Mr Bremner spoke to the Banffshire Journal to explain his ideas. “It’s about time we did something for Foggie,” he said. “Nothing is being done for the town. It’s an opportunity to help Foggie; it’s sore needing it.

“I’ll fight for Foggie till the end.”

Describing his plans, Mr Bremner said: “We are not going to touch the outside; no trees will be removed. Inside, it will be gutted and refurbished.

“It is in a nice part of the town, and we want to keep it that way. It would be stupid putting it to houses. It’s a great situation.

“All the work will be done by Roberts Consultants.”

Roberts Consultants, from Stirling, say they are specialists in developing care businesses.

Mr Roberts said: “We represent a business consortium that wishes to register an interest in redeveloping this important community facility.

“The consortium believes that a community care scheme would make best use of the building and would be welcomed by residents in the surrounding area.”

He added: “The consortium considers that its proposal will be in tune with community needs and will provide a valuable new care facility.”

The council still owns the building, which was a council-run care home until a few years ago.

Mr Bremner said he was unclear how the council would act, with two rival plans for the Rose Innes building.

A developer from Inverurie, Tor Ecosse, has already lodged plans to demolish the century-old former hospital and build 13 low-cost houses on the site.

When the plans came before councillors on the Banff and Buchan area committee a fortnight ago, councillors deferred a decision until they had undertaken a site visit.

One councillor, Ian Gray, expressed his concern at the number of objections to the plans, and said he was worried that Aberchirder folk were in danger of being steamrollered if the plans went through without more scrutiny.

Councillor Cox proposed a site visit, warning that outright refusal could allow the applicant to go straight to an appeal, and possibly win permission.

Planning officials Continued on Page 2 have advised against granting permission, on the grounds of the design itself, and the effect on the conservation area and listed buildings around it.

Some 15 letters of objection were received, and only one in support.

Aberchirder and Marnoch Community Council has also come out against the Tor Ecosse proposals, and the new consortium is drawing attention to the community council stance, in which it said: “The closure of the Rose Innes home has led to deterioration in provision for the elderly of the community, resulting in the withdrawal of services provided in Aberchirder, including day-care, residential care and a dementia unit, leading to the removal of care within the community, with its continuing contact with family, friends and neighbours, and its replacement in centres at considerable distance from the town.

“This leads to difficulties in visiting an area with very limited public transport, and can isolate the elderly from their community and social circle.

“The community council is particularly concerned with the very frail and vulnerable and their families and friends.”

The consultants are now seeking a meeting with planning officials as soon as possible to discuss their ideas in more detail, and with a view to submitting a formal planning application, said Mr Roberts.

The Rose Innes home was closed three years ago by Aberdeenshire Council, who said it could not be upgraded to meet the latest Care Commission standards for care homes, including wheelchair access and en-suite facilities.

Mr Bremner was the last provost of Aberchirder, and also served as a councillor on both Banff and Buchan District Council and the Aberdeenshire Council.

Mr Brember, who will be 90 in May, told the Journal: “I’m still working.”