Victory for Anstruther residents after care home park plan thrown out

Residents made their feelings about the preferred site known - and have now succeeded in having the plans dropped

Fife Health and Social Care Partnership announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to withdraw Bankie Park in Anstruther as a viable option for the replacement home for Ladywalk.

The proposal to use the park for the care home had been met with widespread opposition, with around 2000 people signing a petition calling on the plans to be dropped.

Fife MP backs calls for alternative care home site after resident backlash

A number of local politicians had backed residents in calling for an end to the plans.

Feedback ranged from concerns over environmental issues, the local wildlife, social impacts and safe walking routes for school children.

The news that the proposal, which was the preferred choice of site, has been dropped, was welcomed by local campaigners.

“We are absolutely delighted, there has been a huge community effort to oppose Bankie Park as the preferred site,” said Susanne McElhinney, chair of Bankie Park Development Group.

“I’m very proud to be part of such a strong community.

“We thank Fife Health and Social Care Partnership for listening to the local community and making the right decision.

“We have been assured a site will be sought in the local area. It is very important we keep the care home in the community. We have offered our support to help identify suitable sites.”

Following the announcement, work will continue to find a suitable site for the replacement home.

“Our goal remains the same, to provide high quality care for our care home residents in Anstruther and to have a care home that is at the heart of the community,” said David Heaney, general manager (East).

“We now need to move forward to make this happen and I am very pleased that local community organisations have offered their commitment to working with us to achieve this goal.”

North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins congratulated those involved in the campaign. He added: “I was pleased to meet up with the campaign group on several occasions and to co-ordinate a letter from myself and MSPs reflecting support for the campaign which, while supporting the need for a new care home, objected to Bankie Park as the location.

“I hope another site which is acceptable to the community and will meet the needs of care home residents, will be found soon.”