CASTEL FROMA COULD MOVE TO OLD SCHOOL SITE

A SPECIALIST care centre could be moving to the former site of North Leamington School to improve its facilities.

Castel Froma in Leamington, is hoping to buy 3.4 acres of land at the site in Cloister Way to build a new 72-bed facility.

Chief executive Robert Pearce said that contracts had been exchanged, and they were now waiting for planning permission to be granted.

If successful, the charity could be looking to raise as much as £12million for the project, some of which would come from the sale of its present centre in Lillington Road.

The centre, which has an annual operating cost of £3.25million, cares for people who have suffered an acquired brain injury, contracted Multiple Sclerosis or other neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, or Parkinson’s Disease.

It provides 24-hour care for 57 residents, and has a staff of 150, which would be increased if the move to the new site took place.

The charity moved to its current premises in the mid-1950s, and the search for a new site began two years ago when the trustees decided it wouldn’t be practical to redevelop it.

Steve Nicklin, chairman of the trustees, said: “Our current premises are not ideal, and we need a new state-of-the-art building to give us an appropriate facility for the 21st century, one which will secure our future.

“We need to be able to move beds and wheelchairs about and our present centre, being a grand old house, has lots of steep staircases, some narrow corridors, and many small rooms. It also requires high maintenance.

“I have often said that our nursing staff delivers excellent care to our residents in spite of their
difficult working environment.”

The move will be the latest step in the master plan that chief executive Mr Pearce brought in two years’ ago to devise and implement.

He has already been responsible for restructuring the centre, devising and implementing new procedures, overseeing building work and redecoration, opening a new respite facility and
introducing new-look uniforms for all staff.

“We have also been in the process of re-branding, and now have a new brochure which better reflects the high quality care and facilities available at the centre,” he said.

“With this latest news, everyone is now very enthusiastic about the future.”

A planning meeting on the application is due to be held within the next four months.

For more information on services visit www.castelfroma.org.uk.