MPs and Councillors Lobbied over Beeches Park Care Village Proposal

12.00.00am GMT Tue 17th Feb 2004

In a high level meeting at Sutton's Civic Offices at the end of January, local MPs Tom Brake and Paul Burstow and Councillors Roger Thistle and Ruth Dombey were briefed about a proposal for the future of the Orchard Hill site. The site is owned by the Merton and Sutton Primary Care Trust.

The Care Village proposal is being promoted by the Queen's Mary's Christian Care Foundation (QMCCF).

Commenting on the Beeches Park Care Village proposal, MP Tom Brake said:

"The fact that the QMCCF has submitted a proposal that could create a community with shops and other facilities makes these plans particularly interesting. And if it enabled some of the long-term Orchard Hill residents on the site to continue living there, this would be of great interest to the parents and carers of Orchard Hill residents."

Mr Brake stressed that whatever the future of the site, he would want there to be extensive consultation with local residents as well as residents of Orchard Hill and their parents and carers about the future use.

According to the QMCCF, the care village would primarily provide care for the elderly and act as a rehabilitation unit for those who need long term care and respite care. QMCCF have included within the proposal a commitment to providing single rooms with en-suite facilities for each client.