Stirling care village ambitions emerge

POSITIVE talks are underway for a Stirling “care village” – despite no funding currently being in place.

Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley and Forth Valley College are hoping to jointly commission the project on the former Stirling Royal Infirmary site.

They say it would be a “neighbourhood” aimed at meeting the needs of older people, incorporating housing, health and social care along with leisure, commercial and education facilities.

There would be a wide range of care and support provision enabling people either to remain in their own home or in a “homely setting” within the development area for as long as they wish.

Current estimates are that it could take up to eight years to create and while talks between the parties are said to be “very positive”, funding may be the project’s main hurdle.

Stirling Council officials say they are hopeful of outside funding for a £500,000 feasibility study prior to a business case and will also be bringing back reports on the further financial implications of the project and potential funding streams.

Council leader Graham Houston declared: “It will come down to all our abilities to find the finance between us.”