Lukewarm backing for Emberton Place bungalows

New bungalows at the Thornton House complex got a lukewarm welcome from Audlem Parish Council.

Nick Powell of Wulvern Housing briefed the monthly council meeting on plans to replace the Thornton House building with six single-bedroom bungalows and four two-bedroom bungalows.

He said the new bungalows would provide better living spaces, private gardens and more parking.

"The current accommodation is not fit for purpose and does not meet the needs of the elderly," he told councillors.

But concern was expressed that the current plans did not include a community room where residents could meet and that the new scheme had only six single person bungalows to replace the eight bed-sits in Thornton House.

Councillor Dave Siddorns said he was particularly concerned at the loss of a communal space in the new plans.

"As people get older they still want to meet other people. You could end up with people not mobile and stuck in their houses," he told councillors.

And Councillor Frances Christie wanted reassurance that the elderly would get help with the new gardens.

"The gardens are very big. I want to know what happens if elderly residents are unable to keep them nice," she said.

Mr Powell said there was a community support package that would ensure gardens were well maintained and said the community room has been dropped from the plans after considerable consultation with residents.

He said that Wulvern Housing had funding to start work in January next year if planning consent was granted.

Councillors agreed to support the full planning application for 10 bungalows on the site which goes before Cheshire East Council next month.

But they would like to see conditions added to persuade Wulvern to make a financial contribution to providing another community facility in Audlem to replace the one that was lost and to incorporate green energy schemes into designs to help reduce the running costs for future residents.

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