WALTHAM CARE HOME BOSS SOUNDS ALARM OVER PROPOSED TOLL BAR COMPETITOR

 

Newgrove House - traditional charm in pleasing setting

A PROTEST about a proposed "extra care" development on land at the Waltham Toll Bar roundabout cut no ice with members of North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee.

The manager of the long-established Newgrove House care home fears the 58-bedroom project submitted by an Isle of Man company, Kings Road Investments Ltd, could put the squeeze on his business - to the detriment both of residents and staff.

Says Mr Ben Evardson: "My residents and their families are very worried that this new facility will result in the closure of Newgrove House which would in turn, result in them having to be re-located.

"Some of my residents have been here more than seven years.

"It is more than likely that this new facility, so close to our existing service, would result in our current admissions being taken there, and this would have a detrimental impact on Newgrove House.

"It does appear unfair that Newgrove has been here for many many years and has served the local community, and all of a sudden, a brand new building is being built which will mean the likely closure of Newgrove. 

"There is a good choice of care homes in the area, and we all still manage to keep open and have a steady number of residents. 

"This new facility with all of its bedrooms would mean that the local homes will simply not survive."

However, the committee decided to grant planning consent for the three-storey development at Toll Bar even though there were also objections from New Waltham parish council and residents.

The Grimsby News says: It is disappointing that a former farm field at Toll Bar is to be urbanised with extra care flatlets, and, as reported earlier, an adjacent care home plus a huge Barratts Homes development. However, the residents and staff at Newgrove House should not be too worried. It has a traditional charm, intimacy, character  and rural setting  that cannot possibly be replicated in  swish new facilities overlooking a housing estate and busy roads. So long as Newgrove maintains hospitality in the best English traditions, it will surely continue to thrive and prosper.