Local Businesses Back Plans for Somerset, UK, Hospital

SOMERSET, ENGLAND, May 05, 2011

Business owners have been quick to recognise the opportunities for extra income plus job security for their employees which would be generated by a GBP20 million mental healthcare hospital development. in Somerset, England.

Montpelier Estates Ltd has submitted a planning application for the low security and medium security care facility at Westpark, Chelston, near Wellington, and hopes to receive approval in May.

The hospital will take up to 72 people suffering from mental illness and learning disabilities, with women making up about half of the patients.

A group of local councillors and candidates visited one nearby business, Blackdown Children's Day Nursery, to hear first-hand how the hospital development might impact on it.

Their visit followed publication of an opinion poll by a local newspaper which found 58 per cent public support for the hospital plans.

Nursery owner Graham Brister-Thorne said: "We are disappointed that none of the campaigners against the hospital have asked for our opinion, so we were pleased to be able to talk to local councillors and candidates.

"We have no concerns about it at all and none of our children's parents have expressed any concern to us about the new hospital plans.

"We know that Montpelier Estates has a sound track record in providing secure care facilities over the last 15 years and there have never been any problems with them in the past.

"From our point of view as an established local business, having a new development with 225 new jobs created on our doorstep creates greater opportunities for us to remain a secure and sustainable business."

Former Taunton Deane Borough Council economic development officer Phil Sharratt, who has surveyed businesses in the area for Montpelier, said: "It is refreshing that at last we are hearing the voice of local businesses speaking up about the hospital plans.

"The nursery's views reflect what I have heard from all the other businesses I have spoken to, who, without exception, see the new hospital as an opportunity for them to do more business."

He also learned how brewery firm Marston's, owner of The Skylark pub, on Westpark, had recently acquired a site for a new pub on a Mansfield business park, close to an almost identical Montpelier secure hospital which opened a year ago.

Mr Sharratt said: "I am sure most people will appreciate that Marston's would hardly be doing that if they had any concerns about security with the hospital."

Wellington Town Councillor Dave Mitton, said: "It was very interesting to have the views of local businesses put to us because it paints a very different picture from the impression given by some local people."

Jill Mitton said: "This is much needed in the region, as friends and families have to travel to Birmingham or further at present, which is not to the benefit of the patient. It will also bring a wide variety of much needed jobs and trade to the town."

Taunton Deane Councillor John Thorne said: "I speak with the personal experience of having had close family and also friends who have needed secure care in the past, so I fully understand the need for such a hospital as well as appreciating the benefits it will bring to the local economy."

Kieron McGrath, who is standing as a Wellington candidate in next month's Deane council elections, said: "People will know I helped start the action group against the Milverton Road garden centre and now the proposed housing development nearby.

"So, it was an interesting experience to see how another controversial local development is engaging with local businesses and listening to people's views."

Montpelier Estates is working closely with Wellington Chamber of Commerce to ensure as many jobs and business services contracts as possible go to local people.

The firm has launched a pre-registration process on its dedicated website http://www.thenewchelstonhospital.co.uk for prospective suppliers and employees.

Priory Group, the proposed operator of the Chelston Hospital, already operates more than 50 hospitals, schools, and care homes nationwide.

Montpelier Estates has provided more than 500 specialist beds in the past nine years, working with the NHS, charities, and independent providers.

Because of the lack of facilities in the South West, there are currently about 100 people with mental illness or learning difficulties who have to be treated outside the region, meaning families often have to travel and stay away in order to visit them.

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