Oct 18, 2021, N Wales Pioneer: Green light for learning disability centre in former Rydal Penrhos boarding house https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/19653987.green-light-learning-disability-centre-former-rydal-penrhos-boarding-house/
A former school boarding house will be converted into supported living flats for people with ‘challenging behaviour’ – despite residents objecting.
Conwy’s planning committee voted against officers’ advice to allow the former Rydal Penrhos building to be converted into 12 self-contained flats for people with autism and learning disabilities.
The site, Hathaway on Pwllychrochan Avenue, Colwyn Bay, will now be developed by Procare Wales.
Procare Wales will use the building as an ‘after care centre’ as part of a community living scheme.
But neighbours were unhappy with the decision. Speaking on behalf of three residents, Mr David Harris asked councillors to reject the proposal, claiming the application was defective as the applicant was applying for a secure unit….
“The residents are to be supervised 24/7, and if they are allowed out of their apartments, they are often supervised two to one. They are kept secure. They have to be because we find the residents have serious challenging behaviour. That is behaviour where the physical safety of the person or others is placed in serious jeopardy.
“The applicant seeks staff who have experience of dealing with people with a history offending. That is difficult to square with its assertion that it takes no ex-offenders.
“Either way, the applicant says there is no risk. If this is correct, it can only be because the residents are kept secure.
“There is no disagreement that these facilities are required, but government guidance acknowledges they should be placed in places where they will not be a nuisance to neighbours.”
He added: “It has to be kept in mind that serious challenging behaviours include not just physical harm but inappropriate sexual behaviour whilst we accommodate it in the middle of a residential area and most importantly immediately opposite a primary school.”…
Cllr Andrew Hinchcliff said: “These are people who need looking after, need a helping hand and need a safe environment. We look at the danger to others, but they are more a danger to themselves, and they’ve got to go somewhere. Here’s a very suitable building being offered as a premises for people like this, and I think it’s too easy to condemn it.”…
The planning application was granted conditional permission, subject to the applicant agreeing to limit its operation to the business model included in the application.
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