Parents fear for 'safety of children' over plan for old mental health hospital
Residents living near a former mental health hospital in theStaffordshire Moorlandshave spoken out over plans to turn it into a secure facility. John Munroe Independent Hospital inRudyardclosed in 2022 after. . .
Residents living near a former mental health hospital in theStaffordshire Moorlandshave spoken out over plans to turn it into a secure facility. John Munroe Independent Hospital inRudyardclosed in 2022 after being rated inadequate by theCare Quality Commission (CQC). A planning application has now been submitted toStaffordshire Moorlands District Council(SMDC) to change the use class of the hospital to C2a - secure residential institution. This would enable it to be used as a prison, young offenders institution, detention centre, secure training centre, custody centre, short term holding centre, secure hospital, secure local authority accommodation or a military barracks. But the proposal has sparked fears about the future use of the site for families living in the area. There are two schools on either side - Horton St Michael's First School and Horton Lodge Community Special School. Around 50 people attended the latest Horton Parish Council meeting with many saying they had not had any notification of the application. They also raised concerns about the lack of details in the proposals put forward to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, such as the intended use of the site or any planned security measures, such as fencing. One mum said: "I understand mental health is through the ceiling and people need to be looked after, but this location is not the right location whatsoever. We have our beautiful children on either side of the village - there are too many negatives to the positive. "My concern is what if they get out - what will the protocol be? What if we get that call to say the school has gone into lockdown?"Another woman said: "I'm worried for the safety of children and residents, from seeing how the John Munroe was, because of what we saw with our own eyes and what we heard. The screaming and shouting all night was awful. "It was something the children were hearing - it's not something children should be hearing. We're very worried if it is made into a C2a building, I don't think it would ever be safe or secure. "A dad said: "A lot of you will have sent your children to Horton St Michael's because it is in your area. We're not in the catchment area but we chose that school specifically because of its rural setting - it offers something to our children that's not just sat in a room looking at a screen. "For something like this to be almost under the radar, because everybody is enjoying the summer holidays, is disgraceful. But I suspect it happens all the time. "Parish council chairman Callum Beswick, who is also a Staffordshire Moorlands District Councillor, told the meeting he would work with Councillor Jo Cox, who represents Horton on the district authority, to call the application in for determination by the planning committee. If it is considered at a planning committee meeting, up to three objectors will be able to put forward their concerns to district councillors making the decision. Residents were also encouraged to submit responses the planning application to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council before the public consultation period ends on Wednesday, August 5. Parish councillors agreed to raise concerns on behalf of residents including the impact on residential amenity for neighbours, lack of clarity on traffic movements and increased noise from operation of the site, as well as lack of public consultation. Councillor Helen Stead said: "I'm vigorously opposed to this for a number of reasons. Councillor Howard Beswick said: "Originally it was a care home for the elderly and that's what it needs to go back to. "A heritage statement submitted as part of the application said: "John Munroe Hospital was until 2022 caring for people with psychiatric and behavioural problems. "Between 2020 and 2022, the hospital wassubject to a series of CQC inspections. Failing to improve, enforcement action was taken and the registration withdrawn in February 2022 with the hospital subsequently ceasing its operations. "The hospital was acquired in 2023 by a group that operates psychiatric hospitals, acquired brain injury hospitals and nursing homes throughout the country. It is intended that the original use providing psychiatric care continues. "The previous owners had not invested in the business, and the buildings are not fit for purpose. John Munroe Hospital is being brought up to date to provide the facilities that a modern psychiatric hospital should have. "Unfortunately, when the C2a planning use class was introduced in 2007 the owners at that time did not seek to re-register the hospital as C2a even though secure accommodation was being provided. "This planning application, supported by this heritage statement seeks solely to redress that and obtain a change of use from C2 to C2a. It does not propose any additional operational development. "Sign up to our main daily newsletter here and get all the latest news straight to your inbox for FREE