New Fortrose care home plans go on public view
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PLANS to build a multi-million pound care home on the Black Isle have won strong support from the local community, according to the developer.
Parklands Group, which operates seven care homes across Highland and Moray, hopes to build a 40-bedroom care home on a site on Ness Road on the edge of Fortrose.
If approved, the care home will open by the end of 2016, creating 50 full-time equivalent jobs.
A public exhibition in Fortrose yesterday (Wednesday) to showcase the proposed £3.5 million investment was attended by more than 80 local residents.
Parklands said that of the 80 residents in attendance, 70 signed a note in support of the proposal.
Parklands currently operate two homes in Ross-shire, in Tain and Muir of Ord.
During the event, Ron Taylor, Parklands Group managing director, gave a commitment that because of the desperate shortage of care provision in the area, there would be a 50/50 split between private and NHS funded beds, a commitment that was warmly welcomed.
After the event, Mr Taylor said: "The response from the local community to our plans has been very positive and the very large turnout is significant. Many people welcomed the prospect of a purpose-built care home as well as the promise of more jobs for the local community.
"It is clear that elderly care provision in Fortrose has not kept pace with the needs of its growing elderly population. Without additional care capacity in the town, elderly people will have to move elsewhere to receive the care they need, splitting up families and communities.
"Of course, this doesn’t have to be the case: Parklands is ready to start work now on a new care home which will open next year, providing the additional care capacity the area so desperately needs as well as a welcome boost for the local economy.
"We believe there is a strong social and economic case for such a facility and, judging by the positive response we have received, it appears that many people in the community share this view."
However, the plan has not pleased all in the local community.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council has already said it intends objecting to the Parklands’ planning application.
The community council says the proposal is against the Inner Moray Firth Local Plan which states that the Ness Road gap site should remain undeveloped in order to preserve separation between the twin villages of Fortrose and Rosemarkie.
"Good plan, completely wrong site" is the view of community councillors.
