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It will be built on the site of the recently-closed Sidney Gale House in Flood Lane. Dorset Council's portfolio holder for adult social care, Cllr Steve Robinson, described the decision as 'an exciting move' which will benefit older people in the community. It comes after years of uncertainty around plans for the building, plus the nearby Fisherman's Arms and former Mountjoy sites.
All three formed part of plans for a 'care village' back in 2019, but these never came to fruition. Now, under these fresh plans, Cllr Robinson says the 60-bed centre will help those who have been admitted to hospital quickly resume their place in society - with the project benefiting individuals, the council and the NHS. Financially, it is believed the centre, over coming years, will generate millions of pounds in savings, with the council getting a rental income from its operation by letting the building to a private operator.
Cllr Robinson said the centre, and two others which will follow, would contribute to the local economy and become part of the community. The council already has a reablement centre in Blandford, by re-purposing an existing building. The Bridport centre will be the first to be purpose-built.
“It is not a care home, it’s a stepping stone back into the community,” he told cabinet members who gave the go-ahead for the centre. The decision paves the way for contracts to be offered to demolish Sidney Gale House and prepare the site for the new centre; for a consultation to be carried out and for contracts to be agreed. The replacement building will also have to go through the design and planning process.
Cllr Robinson said he hoped that the contract would be awarded in a year’s time, the decision coming back to the Cabinet for approval, although the earliest likely date for construction to begin is the spring of 2026, with an 18-month build, followed by a commissioning period with the first residents expected in 2028. A breakdown of expected contract costs shows £1million for inflation, £2.8 million for ‘professional fees’ and £1.
1m for equipment and furniture. The meeting heard that a larger scheme, for an 84-bed centre in Dorchester, was planned to be the first purpose-built reablement site for the Council but negotiations with the NHS over use of part of the hospital site had “stalled”, mainly over legal issues. Cllr Robinson said there remained the will from local NHS executives to proceed with the county town scheme, that the delay had been frustrating, but he remained hopeful it would still proceed.
Cllr Jane Somper said she hoped that what she described as 'robust discussion' over the site with the NHS would continue, while Council finance portfolio holder Cllr Simon Clifford, in characteristic manner called on the NHS to ‘pull it’s finger out’ and get on with it. Last month, before the plans were put out for tender, Dorset Council representatives addressed members of the public at a heated meeting at Bridport town hall. Concerned residents asked them about the new plans for Sidney Gale, and asked why the old building had to close and residents and staffed moved before a replacement could be found.
Former mayor Phil Lathey told the meeting he was angered by Dorset Council’s ‘inaction’ over the years, saying the town had been promised improved care services more than 15 years ago. Cllr Robinson also attended that meeting, where he issues an apology, saying: “On behalf of the council, I’m very sorry. “This has not been due to a lack of effort on our part but rather issues around the economy that had affected building companies some years ago and, more recently, Covid.
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