Inspectors to re-examine decision on controversial Sandwell children’s home
A move to convert an Oldbury house into a residential home for vulnerable children will be re-examined by government inspectors.
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The plan to convert the former foster home in Pool Lane, Oldbury, into a residential care home for up to three vulnerable children was turned down by Sandwell Council’s planning committee in October over a shortfall in parking.
However, an appeal has now been made by Madiha Ali of applicants Abbey Residential Care in a bid to get the decision overturned. The government’s planning inspectorate, which has the power to overrule the council, will now decide whether the care home can open or not.
Sandwell Council rejected the same move to convert the former foster home into a children’s care home 18 months ago before allowing plans to convert the home into a six-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO).
Four parking spaces would have be provided for the converted residential home according to the application, which councillors decided was not enough to alleviate their concerns. Despite the application for the care home to include up to three children plus staff being rejected, the home could still be converted into a six-bed HMO.
The former mayor of Sandwell, Cllr Bill Gavan, spoke out against the plan on behalf of concerned residents when the application wad discussed in September and October.
At the October planning meeting, Cllr Gavan said he did not oppose children’s homes but was against one opening in Pool Lane – which he called a 'cash cow in Sandwell’s smallest cul-de-sac'.
“I don’t object to children’s homes, I object to the site of this particular home,” he told councillors. “My objection is purely on traffic management. I cannot comprehend how the traffic people can allow anything let alone a house of multiple occupation. There’s not even room for dustbins for a house of multiple occupation in that street.”
Cllr Gavan had earlier criticised the move saying the type of home was being run for profit and 'without love and care' and was encouraged to make the claim after seeing a similar children’s home nearby become a plague for neighbours with police called over 100 times in less than two years.
He accused Abbey Residential Care of 'playing games' after knocking on doors in a bid to convince neighbours to withdraw their objections – telling them it was a straight choice between '10 strangers in an HMO or three kids'.
Syeda Madiha Maham Ali, director of Surrey-based Abbey Residential Care, said the former foster home which had belonged to her parents had been 'built to look after children' and the change of use would play a 'small but impactful role' in helping provide a safe environment for vulnerable children in Sandwell.
She said her family home had been brought in 1991 and her parents had cared for more than 100 children from Sandwell in a 25-year stint as foster carers.
Seven objections were made against the application alongside a 31-signature petition. A petition with more than 130 signatures was made against the children’s home plan from last year.