Care home boss defends Fortrose site
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THE boss of a care home company has defended his choice of site for a proposed residential care home on the Black Isle, which has been rejected by planners.
Ron Taylor of Parklands Care Homes told the Ross-shire Journal this week the plot on Ness Road in Fortrose was the only one which is affordable, available and suitable for a development of a 40-bed care home.
Parklands has considered two further sites since the application was refused – one in Fortrose, the other in Rosemarkie – and neither proved suitable.
Mr Taylor made his comments while responding to questions raised this week by locals, who asked why Parklands was pursuing a planning appeal rather than looking to build the £3.5 million property on one of the seven alternative sites on the Black Isle identified by the planning authority as suitable for a care home.
Mr Taylor expressed his disappointment at the planning decision when it was made public two weeks ago, but said then he wasn’t prepared to walk away from the project and was planning to lodge an appeal.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council, which objected to the plan because the site isn’t zoned for development, is hoping care providers, including Parklands, will now explore building a home at an alternative location.
Highland Council refused planning permission because the care home would introduce a “dominant and incongruous” development which was out of keeping with the landscape, and would result in the unjustifiable loss of agricultural land and intrude on a protected green wedge between Fortrose and Rosemarkie.
The Highland Senior Citizens Network and Black Isle Cares said last week the decision to turn down plans for the Ness Road care home during a local care crisis for older people was “deeply disconcerting”.
Both organisations claimed there is an urgent humanitarian need right now for a residential home for the elderly and the Parklands project would’ve helped meet the gap in care.
In response to a query from the Ross-shire Journal this week, Mr Taylor said: “While it may be the case that other potential sites are available for development in the Black Isle, these are in smaller secondary locations, overly expensive or restrictive in terms of space and access.
“The site on Ness Road is the only one which is affordable, available and suitable for a development of this type.
“In addition, the local development plan makes it clear that Fortrose should be the region’s primary service centre and this has been our guiding principle from the outset.
“The chosen site is close to local amenities, bus routes and main roads and gives us access to a large potential workforce.
“The local plan makes no provision for a care home in Fortrose; this is a serious omission.
“Our proposal will retain the historic gap between the two villages, provide an essential community amenity for which there is an overwhelming need, and create 50 quality jobs for local people.
“With a planned investment of £3.5 million at stake, we have carefully reviewed the options and believe that Ness Road is the only viable site for such a development.”
