COUNCILLORS and health officials are continuing to work towards expanding a Rothesay care facility despite the project being paused, it has been claimed.
Residents questioned councillors on the pause of the Thomson Court project, while awarding 315,000 of funding to Struan Lodge care home in Dunoon.
But Councillor Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrat, Dunoon) said that the Struan Lodge repairs were essential, and that it was not one or the other.
Bute Campaign to Extend Thomson Court, and Friends of Thomson Court, submitted the question for public question time at Argyll and Bute Council’s Bute and Cowal area committee on Tuesday, September 2.
Read out at the meeting by clerk Stuart McLean, the statement said: “The announcement back in October confirming funding for the extension of the much-loved facility included investment of 250,000 from Argyll and Bute Council.
“As everybody is aware, this whole project is now paused due to the costs associated with the expansion plan, and the financial position is extremely challenging. We currently have insufficient resources to take this forward.
“Despite repeated requests for the project to be restarted, the position remains unchanged and the lack of transparency around the project continues to raise questions around the competency of the process.
“Meantime, Argyll and Bute Council and the HSCP continue to hide behind the no money excuse. There have been two inspections of Struan Lodge and Thomson Court, which are under the management of the council.
“The Struan Lodge report was extremely positive, and the Thomson Court report was positive in most areas, but the overall assessment was that due to lack of investment, it is deemed unsafe. There was a deadline of June 30 to resolve the requirements.
“As of today, due to the no money position, we understand all recommendations remain outstanding. Given this, we are surprised to see a recent statement announcing investment of £315,000 for improvement works at Struan Lodge, which unlike Thomson Court, is not considered unsafe.
“Can our three local councillors tell us what action they will take to ensure the council will make investment to guarantee the safety of residents in Thomson Court?”
Councillor Peter Wallace (Conservative) was the only councillor for the Isle of Bute ward who was present at the meeting.
He said: “I continue to raise it at every opportunity, most recently on Friday of last week. It is frustrating that there does not seem to be any progress, but I will continue to raise it.
Councillor Moreland added: “Councillor Wallace has raised it numerous times and is right to continue to do so.
“It is not the case in any way that this money is one or the other. The works at Struan Lodge are essential works.
“We are looking at the expansion of Thomson Court and the IJB is continuing to work towards that, but with Struan Lodge, we are talking about old wiring. These are essential works.
“It is about keeping both open and looking at the long-term future of Thomson Court. I do not agree that Thomson Court has not been served.”
