Plans for dementia care facility near Cowfold deferred

Plans for a dementia care facility north of Cowfold have been deferred by the council.
Roger Clarke said a recommendation to refuse a dementia care facility was a 'slap in the face'Roger Clarke said a recommendation to refuse a dementia care facility was a 'slap in the face'
Roger Clarke said a recommendation to refuse a dementia care facility was a 'slap in the face'

Medicrest are looking for permission for a building to house 32 residents to replace existing dementia annex at Homelands Care Home off the A281.

Horsham District Council officers recommended that the scheme be refused due to issues with the design of the building, and the lack of information on the need for such a facility in a countryside location.

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But members of HDC’s Development Control South decided to defer the application on Tuesday, as many councillors supported the new facility in principle.

Roger Clarke (Con, Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead), who helped set up the Horsham District Dementia Action Alliance, called the officers’ recommendation a ‘real slap in the face’.

He explained how there was a great need in the district for such facilities for residents with dementia, but did express disappointment a representative from the care home had not come to the committee meeting, and admitted the proposed new building did ‘not look the most attractive from the outside’.

Jonathan Chowen (Con, Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead) agreed, but proposed deferring the application as a sensible way forward as the design was ‘quite brutal’.

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Nigel Jupp (Con, Billingshurst and Shipley) said it would be ‘cloud cuckoo’ to think that large suitable sites for dementia facilities would become available in built up areas given the housing ‘crisis’.

He added: “I think this site is eminently suitable.”

Paul Clarke (Con, Pulborough and Coldwaltham) pointed out that they had approved a similar application in Pulborough recently, but called postponing a decision ‘quite sensible’.

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