THE VALE Council has announced that following a public consultation the former Bryneithin care home site in Dinas Powys will be developed to benefit older people.

The eight-week consultation, which was held between July 22 and September 13 this year, found that there was popular support for the Council's aim of ensuring the site is used to meet the care and support needs of older people in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The council Cabinet recommended last month that the land be declared surplus so that it could be sold off for an extra care facility or for older people’s housing to be built.

A spokeswoman from the council said Cabinet had made it clear from the outset that the site would be earmarked for a redevelopment for older people.

In addition it has been agreed that the wooded area at the rear of the Bryneithin site, which cannot be developed, will be transferred to the Council's Learning and Skills Department, to be used by St Andrew's Major C/W Primary School for outdoor education.

In March 2013 the Bryneithin residential care home was closed and a Cabinet working group set up to evaluate the options for the future of the site.

The Council invited Vale residents to offer their suggestions for the site in an eight week public consultation between July and September this year.

Residents and community groups responded online, in writing, by telephone and by attending community drop in sessions in Dinas Powys.

The consultation found that “the preferred option of many local residents would be for some form of care facility for older people to be developed on the site”, that “local residents feel strongly that there is a need for more care provision for residents of the Vale who have a dementia-related illness” and that “local residents feel strongly that there is a need for additional respite facilities for those residents caring for older people”.

The consultation also found that “if it were not possible to develop a care facility on the Bryneithin site, then a housing development for older people would be welcomed by a significant number of residents”.

There were also concerns raised about transport links to the site.

Councillor Stuart Egan, deputy leader and Cabinet member for adult services, said: “Now that we have a strong understanding of what local residents would like to see on the site, we are confident that it will continue to play an important role within the vibrant community of Dinas Powys.”

If you would like more information on the consultation please visit the Vale of Glamorgan Council website www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk and select ‘Consultation in the Vale’ from the ‘Our Council’ section.