£3.8m care home bid for former Blackburn infirmary (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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£3.8m care home bid for former Blackburn infirmary
7:00pm Wednesday 19th December 2012 in News
By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter
Demolition work at the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary site
PLANS to transform the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary’s dilapidated War Memorial Wing into a £3.8 million residential care centre are in the pipeline.
Ideal Care Homes hopes to develop the site into a 64 bed, three-storey home by summer 2014.
If the health service provider is granted permission, the 84-year-old wing built by public subscription to commemorate the dead of the First World War, could be demolished next summer.
Since the original plans for the site stalled three years ago, the imposing building has been targeted by thieves and vandals till it decayed into an unsafe eyesore.
The planned home will offer pensioners ‘extra care and support’ and the new proposal follows the start of building work to turn the rest of the old infirmary site into a £10.6 million 123 homes housing estate.
Andrew Long, for Ideal Care said: “This is an exciting project for Blackburn.
“If we get the go ahead we will be investing £3.8 million and creating between 50 and 60 jobs within the local community. As with each of Idea Care Homes 34 centres, we will be able to offer anyone who needs a place, a place regardless of their financial means.
“Unfortunately, the existing hospital building is not fit for purpose and with it being left open to the elements it would cost a vast amount of money to make it functional.”
Professor David Smalley, president of Blackburn Darwen and Rural Civic Voice, said: “This is an acceptable compromise, better than a bingo hall.
“It should have something included commemorating why it was built to save lives in memory of those who died in the First World War.”
Ewood Coun Maureen Bateson, said: “I am really pleased to hear about plans for this much needed development.
“So far they have received really positive feedback that will add to the developments already taking place on this site.” Borough social care chief Mohammed Khan said: “The council is keen on any plans that will provide high quality housing for older people in the borough.
“We will be very interested to see the detailed proposals which will have to go through the proper channels.”
Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “This is a welcome development which reflects the building’s original purpose.”
Comments(13)
mark lee
says...
8:15pm Wed 19 Dec 12
phil kernot
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8:32pm Wed 19 Dec 12
GrindletonBob
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9:08pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Make those responsible for leaving it open to the elements complete the necessary works, given the act was deliberate so that the argument could be made that the building was beyond repair. No doubt the Councillors involved will get the necessary backhanders or offers of financial support for one of their pet projects so I await the bulldozers moving in.
Scooby
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9:19pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Which as I'm reading it, means the Council have the legal right to protect the War Memorial... no excuse for not taking legal action on behalf of the town?
A Darener
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8:08am Thu 20 Dec 12
sean_brfc
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9:09am Thu 20 Dec 12
vicn1956
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10:22am Thu 20 Dec 12
vicn1956
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10:35am Thu 20 Dec 12
sonny
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11:27am Thu 20 Dec 12
A Darener wrote:sickening that they where so blatantly allowed to let the hospital rot for so long, I noticed they are using the same scam on that old listed building that's in the way of the final piece of the orbital route on King street, its just wrong.
To let it deteriorate beyond repair was always the intention. Nobody was going to take on the task of maintaining such a vast building. It would have cost millions to convert it into something useful. Slowly but surely the face of Blackburn is going to change, and not for the better.
Darwen Malc
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10:36pm Thu 20 Dec 12
vicn1956 wrote:Exactly, and all those who keep complaining on this website about whats happening to Blackburn and how its all going downhill, will go out like sheep and vote Labour back in again. You get what you deserve!
Why worry? They'll all get voted back in next election.
Scooby
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10:50pm Thu 20 Dec 12
Darwen Malc wrote:You really shouldn't be so assumptive..
vicn1956 wrote:Exactly, and all those who keep complaining on this website about whats happening to Blackburn and how its all going downhill, will go out like sheep and vote Labour back in again. You get what you deserve!
Why worry? They'll all get voted back in next election.
2 for 5p
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1:33am Sat 22 Dec 12
get it pulled down and put something usefull there
Scooby says...
8:11pm Wed 19 Dec 12
The housing company which bought the site said they would keep the building.. if they haven't bothered to maintain it, they should be charged for all the costs of bringing it back to a suitable condition.
Cannot believe that the elected members of our council would be so happy to throw away a part of towns history and culture so easily! Disgusting and stinks of a cash in hand deal