Residents react to high dependency care facility proposal at Limes Guesthouse

The plans, submitted to West Berkshire Council by Ascot Design, are for a 71-bed facility on the site of Limes Guest House, London Road.
Now, residents living in the surrounding roads and Newbury Town Council have raised objections to the plans which have been designed for people suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
On Monday evening, Newbury Town Council raised objections to the plans for reasons including over-development, out of keeping with the surroundings, lack of car parking space and lack of consultation with residents.
At the council's planning and highways committee meeting, town councillor Tony Stretton (Con, Clay Hill), said: “From my own view, there’s no doubt that Newbury needs these kinds of facilities.
"The question is whether this is the correct site for these types of facility."
Residents have claimed that they had not been consulted on the “gross overdevelopment” plans before they were submitted and that a building of that size would dominate the part of London Road between Redfield Court and Fir Tree Lane.
Angelika Rivero, of London Road, who has spoken on behalf of the residents said: "Whilst the local residents respect the potential need for expanded care home provision in the district we regard this particular proposed development to be wholly unacceptable.
"Whilst the architects have attempted to incorporate features from Victorian and Edwardian periods the overall mass of the building gives large parts of the development a striking resemblance with a Victorian workhouse. Its overall effect is overbearing and institutional."
Anna Barnes, of London Road, said that she had great crested newts living in her garden which needed protecting, and added: "Valuable wildlife space by way of garden will be lost forever."
Michael Allison, of Fir Tree Lane, said: “The building is totally out of character with Victorian and early 20th century buildings in the immediate vicinity. It will dominate the skyline, and resembles a barrack building in an army camp.”
So far, 16 residents have registered letters of objection to the council, no letter of support have been submitted.
The site currently occupies three buildings, numbers 366, 368 and 370.
There will be a nurses station on each floor and each room will contain its own bathroom facilities. The communal areas will include a library, a dining hall, a lounge and shop.
A final decision is expected by West Berkshire Council by the end of May.