New care village set for Cheltenham

A CHELTENHAM sports club could be replaced by a care village for the elderly, it has been revealed.

The complex in Arle Court would include 60 extra-care flats with a 24-hour dedicated care team and a 90-bedroom care home. It would provide 100 jobs.

The 3.7-acre plot of land is occupied by Dowty Sports & Social Ltd and includes a clubhouse and squash courts.

Discussions took place with Dowty Sports & Social Ltd at an extraordinary general meeting attended by 300 people, at Arle Court.

The club has leased the site, for a peppercorn rent, from David Bill since he bought the land in 1998. The DSS runs two other club houses at Staverton and Ashchurch.

Dowty Sports and Social Ltd chairman Peter Salter said: “We held a meeting and received strong support for the proposals for the Arle Court site.

“Mr Bill has been generous for the past 10 years. We can't expect the current arrangement to continue and must investigate what's best for the future of club members.

“That will mean vacating Arle Court and consolidating our activity at Staverton and Ashchurch and ensuring the future of DSS.

“If we stay at Arle Court, we face huge costs in rent, repairs and maintenance which we can't afford.

“That would have an impact on the other two club premises and could threaten the future of DSS.”

Mr Salter said everything currently done at the Arle Court site can be transferred to Staverton, although some social events may have to be rearranged.

He said: “At Staverton there are a pair of tennis courts which have recently been refurbished. There are cricket pitches which have been dormant for several years and can be resurrected.”

Mr Bill, 68, said: “What we have in mind is the sort of place I would like to retire to myself.

“The idea is to have a jolly nice place, built to a high standard, where young-at-heart crinklies can enjoy life, knowing that the care they need would be on their doorstep.”

The new care village would contain a gym, swimming pool, creche, cinema, hairdressing salon, shop, health centre and gardens.

It may also include a bowls pitch and croquet lawn. The aim is to create a community for active pensioners.

The apartments would be for sale and rent to 'last-time buyers' – elderly people who remain independent, but want to live in a community where help is at hand for anything from household chores, to daily nursing care.

Preliminary discussions have taken place with Cheltenham Borough Council. A planning application has yet to be submitted.

Andrew Wilson, project manager for the care village, said: “This proposed development recognises that Cheltenham has a growing elderly population who need homes and communities that suit their needs.”