Shaws Wood dithering by local tories
After two years of tory dithering, during which staff and elderly residents were prematurely made to leave the building, Shaws Wood is due to be used as a temporary decant facility for residents of Churchlands.
Tory dithering led to vandalism
During the time the tories dithered over the site, the building has been vandalised, and now will cost more for KCHT (who run Churchlands, Chatham) to renovate and make fit for purpose. However, residents of Shaws Wood were originally told the reason they couldn’t stay was that the building was no longer appropriate for their or the Council’s needs.
Plan for elderly residents
Despite the move by local tories, there remains no overarching Older Persons’ Plan, and still not enough provision for older people’s care in Medway, whether respite, residential, day care or for specific needs such as dementia.
Ward councillor Stephen Hubbard said,
"I am glad that for the next two years with KCHT using the building for its intended purpose, it will at least stop the vandalism. But what are the long-term plans? Will Medway Council still sell the Mill Road site for private housing development, despite the credit crunch, or will their plans change yet again?"
"The plans for Strood’s Shaws Wood old peoples home have been a complete mess. Proposals were first made in early 2006: since then the portfolio holder has changed, the senior officers have changed, the Tories have given up £30 million from the Government for a centre of excellence, and they seem to have abandoned the Older Persons’ Plan entirely. And during this time the unused Shaws Wood, residential home and day centre, has just become more and more run down."
Labour Spokesperson on Adult Services, Cllr Teresa Murray said,
"This is all at a time when, as an aging population, we need a clear focus on older people’s care, and increased provision- under this administration we have neither. There is also little consideration of what older people actually want- the Tories just don’t bother to consult with our older residents."
