Sam Townend for Bristol North West

Sir,
 
Why is the new Lib Dem Bristol City Council Administration seeking to re-open the care homes plan for Bristol ("Bristol care homes plan 'a mess'"23.03.09)?  After considerable careful research and a lot of work between residents in Henbury and Brentry, Bristol Charities and the then responsible Labour Councillor, Derek Pickup, an arrangement was reached where Bengough House in Henbury would be provided to the Council for a land swap in order to allow Bristol Charities to build more homes.  This would also allow the much-loved Brentry House Elderly People's Home to stay open.  For this part of Bristol it was a very useful solution.  Bengough House is suitable to accomodate people with dementia in the north of Bristol and the Commission for Social Care Inspection have said so.  As for the three reasons given by the Council for changing policy- they are risible:  parking should not be a problem at Bengough House, fire safety regulations have not changed that much in six months since they were last assessed and the estimated costs of refurbishment from £450,000 to £950,000 should be re-estimated downwards and Council officers made to stick to the originally agreed budget.  My concern is that the new Administration are simply seeking to reject the plan because it was constructed by the previous Labour Administration.  I will campaign with local residents in order to keep the Bengough plan and to keep Brentry House open and call upon Cllr Knott to change his mind. 
 
Sam Townend
Labour prospective MP
Bristol North West