Council plans £7million new care home in Llanelli

CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council is looking to invest £7million in a new care facility for older people in Llanelli.

The development forms part of the council’s capital investment programme to update and improve care provision in Carmarthenshire.

The facility would provide state-of-the-art care for the people of Llanelli, and would be developed to replace existing outdated care homes.

One such care home is St Paul’s, where facilities – whilst meeting statutory requirements – cannot meet the modern day requirements of people in need of residential care.

At present, St Paul’s has 20 beds, with only seven permanent residents – a situation that has not improved since 2010 when the council first discussed closing the facility.

The closure would allow significant funding to be allocated to the proposed new care home, the plans for which would otherwise be jeopardised.

Cllr Jane Tremlett, Executive Board Member for Health and Social Care, said: “We have invested heavily in care facilities across the county as part of our capital programme.

“The new Argel Extra Care Scheme is currently under construction in Carmarthen, and the new Extra Care Scheme in Ammanford will start in March with completion due by Autumn 2015.

“Looking carefully at the care provision in the Llanelli area – and more importantly at the standard of care we want to provide – it is only right that the people of Llanelli should benefit from the best there is as well.

“We are extremely pleased to announce this development, and whilst appreciating the sensitivities around the potential closure of existing facilities we hope that people understand that there is a bigger picture.

“We want to provide services that not only meet, but exceed, their expectations for care in the 21st century.”

Council officers are currently drawing up plans and identifying potential locations.

In terms of St Paul’s, social care managers are working closely with residents and families, as well as staff and union representatives, to plan for the future.

There is capacity in other residential care homes in the area which could accommodate residents.

Such a move would be carried out sensitively with the full involvement of families, and in accordance with policies which ease the transition.

The new development, along with the ongoing development of other social care services, would allow for staff to be redeployed.

Council Leader, Cllr Kevin Madge, said: “We have been looking to develop residential care services in the Llanelli area for some time. I am pleased that we have now been able to identify funds within our capital programme which will allow us to move forward, whilst improving services and protecting jobs.”