Shropshire Review

Fight to save home

Care home chiefs behind the proposed controversial closure of a Much Wenlock facility have explained why they need to shut the centre.

ExtraCare Charitable Trust wants to bulldoze Much Wenlock’s Lady Forester Community Nursing Home in January next year to make way for housing.

"We will make every effort to ensure that residents are able to find a new home"

The news sparked an angry response from the home’s residents and their supporters who staged a public meeting in opposition to the move and sparked a petition which contains 1,000 signatures.

If services at the home are axed seven residents would be forced to move out and 28 jobs would be under threat.

But ExtraCare claims that £2.2 million would have to be spent on the facility, which has operating losses of £336,000.

The organisation’s chief executive, Nick Abbey, said: “We are mindful of the significant distress and disruption caused at this difficult time.”

He added that individual meetings were being held between staff and residents and their relatives to allow each person to discuss their situation, express their views and receive appropriate support.

“If closure goes ahead we will appoint a key worker to support each resident,” he said. “We will make every effort to ensure that residents are able to find a new home”

Shropshire Homes has put in an offer to acquire the whole site from ExtraCare, he said, adding that it would be the intention of the developer to build homes on part of the land whilst retaining and refurbishing, as apartments, the Victorian building.

Tears as school closes

The Dower House, one of the county’s oldest charity-funded schools, has closed its doors for good
.
On the last day of summer term pupils, parents and teachers gathered for a tearful farewell assembly in Quatt.

Children have some fun on the last day of school at the Dower House. Picture: Gary Williams. www.garywilliamsphotography.co.uk

The closure follows an energetic fight by parents and teachers to keep the establishment open.

They had been told that the private institution would face the axe unless extra revenue could be raised or more students enrolled to help boost the 45 being educated at the school.

To end the sad proceedings on a positive note and to help lift the spirits of all those attending the last day, a picnic in the grounds followed the formal farewells, allowing the students to play and the parents and staff to relax and reminisce and reflect on their memories of a much-loved school.

“It was a very sad occasion,” said one parent. “There was not a dry eye in the house.

Breathing life into market towns

Bridgnorth will benefit from a £3million initiative which aims to revitalise the county’s market towns.

The money was allocated in February as part of Shropshire Council’s capital programme.

It will be used to finance projects in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Chuch Stretton, Oswestry, Whitchurch and Market Drayton.

A small task group will be set up in each town under the leadership of the local Shropshire councillor, working alongside town councillors.

Each body has been asked to prioritise a maximum of two schemes within their area.

The report stated that the focus should be on projects that would deliver the greatest economic, social and environmental impact within a reasonably short space of time.

Council leader Keith Barrow said that at a time of “extreme economic pressure” the authority was still able to inject capital into communities.

“We are putting our money where our mouth is,” he added.

Bid to bolster image

Councillors have pledged to look at ways in which Bridgnorth could be smartened up following concerns from residents about the image it is presenting.

They say that areas of the market town are not being properly looked after.

At a recent town council meeting Mayor Councillor Val Gill said there had been a number of complaints.

Members agreed that the authority’s administration and civic committee should investigate further.

Former chairman of the Bridgnorth Civic Society, Mr Michael Rainsford, had called on the council to become a more ‘forceful body.’

In a letter he also asked the authority to take over the ‘maintenance’ and ‘enforcement’ responsibilities previously held by the county and district councils.

Masters of their art

Gary Plant, Chris Punchard and Mrs Allie Lucas are pictured after the presentation.

Bridgnorth’s Excalibur Martial Arts students Chris Punchard and Miles Westwood were promoted to 1st Dan Black Belt and Gary Plant and Mrs Allie Lucas were promoted to 2nd Dan Black Belt at the recent GTI Black Belt Grading in Derby. 

For more information about the club call 07963 065229 or visit www.excaliburma.co.uk

Birds of a feather

Ria Howard feeds some of her feathered charges / Photograph Judy Mainwaring

For the past nine years a Bridgnorth husband and wife team have dedicated their lives to caring for all creatures great and small.

Vic and Ria Howard run the Lake House Wildlife Sanctuary from their home in Church Lane where, over the years, they have provided refuge for hundreds of feathered friends.

Ducks, geese, swans and even a number of garden birds have found safe haven with the caring couple. At present they have around 80 residents.
A fresh water lake, which measures over an acre in size, plays a big part in helping to rehabilitate their winged charges to full health.

Entirely self-funded, the sanctuary relies on donations and fund-raising drives including tombolas and raffles to keep the valuable work going.

“We depend on donations of bric-a-brac, books, DVDs and so on which we sell on charity stalls or at car boots,” said Ria.

The venue is also open to the public with a cost of £5.50 per person to enjoy a walk around the lake, feed the birds and take a closer look at those who are being looked after in the pens and aviary.

The little bird, who was rejected by his mother around 14 months ago, has no wings but is thriving as a result of Ria’s tender loving care

The couple stipulate that each party contains a minimum of 10 people.

The entry fee includes home-made cakes and sandwiches, all washed down with a welcome cuppa. The sanctuary is able to accommodate 60 visitors at a time.

And one special little character, a blue tit christened Tweetie Pie who was rescued by Ria from Pattingham, and who has taken up residence in the couple’s conservatory, is one of the undoubted stars of the show.

The little bird, who was rejected by his mother around 14 months ago, has no wings but is thriving as a result of Ria’s tender loving care.

For further information on the valuable work carried out by the couple, to book a visit or donate items of bric-a-brac, contact Ria on 01746 767408.

New hope for hospital

A county health chief has revealed that Bridgnorth Hospital’s operating theatre could be partially reopened under an option to be considered by the Shropshire Primary Care Trust.

But there is now uncertainty over the future of the maternity unit after staffing hours were put under the spotlight as a part of a review of its services.

The trust in charge says there are no plans to close the unit and that all jobs are secure, but added that all possibilities are being explored.

During a recent visit to the hospital PCT managing director June Patel received a 4,500 name petition from the League of Friends calling for the reopening of the operating theatre.

She said the move was among a number of possibilities, which also include the upgrading of the theatre.

“I note the strength of feeling from the local community which is demonstrated through the petition,” said Mrs Patel. “We are currently completing a business case and the petition will be taken into consideration as part of that case by the PCT.”

She added that the body would then need the capital to support the business case, which would have to come from the Department of Health.

She confirmed that the theatre, which has been closed since January, falls below national standards.

Stop off by shops

A new bus stop has been installed in Bridgnorth to help residents get to the shops more easily.

The new pick up and drop off point between Tara’s fashion shop and Simply the Best in the town’s Whitburn Street will run for a trial three-month period.

Pensioners and people who have difficulty walking had contacted Shropshire councillor Christian Lee over the issue.

They told him the distance they had to travel by foot from the relief road bus stops was not acceptable.