THE COSTS spent so far on a planning application for a 170-bed residential care home planned for Toutley East was questioned by a member of the public.
Keith Malvern raised the issue at a meeting of the Executive Committee held on Thursday, January 26.
Responding, Cllr David Hare, the executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said the site is a replacement for Southern Lodge and would be a specialist dementia care home, aimed at offering high quality affordable care for residents.
“Approximately £340,000 was spent surveys, feasibility and design work, and the planning application preparation. About £500,000 has been spent on detailed designed and preparation for the construction of the site. This spend is within the capital budget for the project, which is in the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan,” he said.
Mr Malvern said there had been “significant local concerns … particularly about the safety of the access from the A321. How much money has been spent to come to an acceptable solution, and how much money has been spent explaining to local residents and councillors?”
Cllr Hare said he wasn’t sure, but could get an answer from council officers, but “fairly intensive work” had been undertaken to make the site as safe as possible.
