MORE than 100 residents packed into a public meeting over plans to take mentally-disturbed adults in a Bispham nursing home.

Neighbours of the Coastlands Nursing Home in Sandhurst Avenue attended the meeting on Tuesday evening (May 4) to oppose its planned conversion to take 14 psychiatric patients aged 25 to 65. The nursing home, owned by the Hessey Group, has operated for ten years caring for up to 25 mentally infirm patients aged over 50. But an over-supply of such places on the Fylde Coast has led owner Frank Hessey to seek a lower age-group.

Ward councillor Don Clapham, who addressed the meeting, said: "I think the public safety issue is paramount in people's minds. The care of such patients is, of course, very important, but the fear-factor is there among the neighbours. They want to know just how safe are the people in the area. It's not the right place for it and it would still meet a great deal of resistance from the residents."

Blackpool planning chairman Coun George Bancroft met Mr Hessey yesterday to discuss whether the change needs planning permission.

"In our opinion, on the information we've received, we consider it's a change of use that requires planning permission," said Coun Bancroft. "Mr Hessey considers it's only a change from one category of patient to another under the Mental Health Act.

"We have advised him to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness to formally determine whether he does need planning permission. We would carry out a full consultation exercise so the public could have their say."

Mr Hessey, who was unobtainable yesterday, has previously told the Citizen the patients would pose no risk to the public as he would rule out anyone with a criminal record, psychotics or people with alcohol or subtance problems.

He would also employ experienced staff to care for the patients who may otherwise be released into the community, causing more of a safety risk.

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