A FORMER Oswestry councillor has criticised plans to place a care home to be situated next to a cemetery.

But a spokesman on behalf of the developer, which plans to build the 80-bed facility at an unused site in Victoria Road, stated they believe the ‘well-kept’ cemetery is a nice, open space to overlook.

The comments from former town councillor Steve Mason were made in the public session of Wednesday’s Development and Planning Committee meeting regarding the site which is currently home to the vacant Guttercrest factory.

The meeting was also attended by Debbie Hume of Strathmore Estates, speaking on behalf of the developer.

Mr Mason also raised concerns over the height of the proposed building, claiming people at the care home would be able to see through his windows and overlook his, and his neighbours’, gardens.

“The way it is designed now, that storey can look straight into my bedroom, and I have no privacy in my back garden – not just mine, but several back gardens,” said Mr Mason.

“We are really annoyed – this is the first time we have seen a consultant. I would ask councillors to take that on board when you make your comments.

“I agree the site needs developing, but how indignant is it to have a care home next to a cemetery?”

In response to his concerns, Mrs Hume denied that the plans would result in overlooking.

She also stated that the nearby cemetery is not a concern for the developers or regional providers dealing with the plans.

“This development meets all the technical requirements for separation distances to address the resident’s concern regarding overlooking,” said Mrs Hume.

“We’ve designed and orientated the development so that there are no proposed bedroom windows which look directly towards liveable space. We’ve adhered to everything we are required to do and have pushed the building much further back than the factory.

“I don’t quite understand the point regarding the cemetery. It is well kept and attractive. We see the cemetery as nice, open space to overlook .

“It is an individual choice for a resident to locate on this elevation or overlooking the more active elevations. Fundamentally, the applicants are specialists in this field and build these all the time and have chosen this site for its particular location.

“The developers have a regional provider which has signed off on the location as well as the drawings – they are entirely happy with its design.

“There is a lovely residents’ garden proposed , including a wildflower area and there is an existing boundary of trees which will be further supplemented by new trees which are quite high, so, in any event, you would be struggling to see over the cemetery from ground and first floors.”

Councillors made no objection in principle to the plans and welcomed the additional employment and provision of services.

But they agreed to express concerns that residents have not been consulted fully on the impact that the height of the development may have.

They agreed to ask that particular attention is given to the issue of overlooking neighbouring properties and the number of parking spaces available.

Mrs Hume added that the care home would employ 65 staff on three eight-hour shift patterns.

She also confirmed that the development would care for the most frail elderly and specialise in Alzheimer’s and end-of-life care.

She added: “It addresses the shortage of quality care in the area and will also provide efficient health and social care provision under one roof, reducing demand on the NHS.

“Ultimately, the development will provide increased well-being for the elderly residents in need of 24-hour nursing care in Oswestry.”