Gateshead Council has informed residents of Eighton Banks of plans to convert a house into a children’s home.
Gateshead Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, Coun Gary Haley, has written to residents neighbouring the Fell View property on Rockcliffe Way. According to the letter, the local authority has applied to change Fell View into a children’s home for up to three children.
If the plans are approved, Fell View would be managed by Gateshead Council’s children’s services team and registered with Ofsted, with the children supported at all times by at least two live-in staff.
Coun Haley’s letter reads: “We know that children thrive in a loving family environment, but for some children this is sadly not a possibility due to the situations they find themselves in, through no fault of their own. It is imperative therefore that we try to offer stability, care and compassion through our care system, which is why we strive to place most children with loving foster families locally.
“This is not just a key priority for us as a council but ultimately it is the right thing to do for those children. We want to be in a position as a council to be able to offer our Gateshead children the best possible homes to live in right here in the borough.
“We want our children and young people to stay at their local schools and keep their friendship groups. If we can lessen the trauma for our children, we know this will enable them to lead much more fulfilled and stable lives, and this gives them the strength to achieve their dreams, which is all any of us would want for our own children.”
The letter also says there would be no extensions or “major” changes to the property other than to make the entrance more accessible. Coun Haley has encouraged residents to view the application on the council’s online planning portal once the plans have been published.
According to the property website Rightmove, Fell View has been sold, subject to conditions. The five-bedroom detached home was advertised for offers over £499,950.
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