£17m cash boost for social care

Older people and those with disabilities in Shropshire are to benefit from a £17m cash injection into social care services.

The county has been chosen to receive the funding by the Department of Health and part of the money will pay for a new 40-bed nursing home.

The money will be mainly spent on building new and improved social care facilities in Shropshire, in line with national guidelines.

This includes the nursing home, in Shrewsbury, a 20-bed care facility in south Shropshire, along with modernising of day care services for adults with learning disabilities and older people.

We are delighted to get the go-ahead for our project, which will bring real improvements to council facilities Roger Walker, Shropshire County Council

Harlescott Library will be replaced by a new joint services centre, including a library, the county's community care library, new community use facilities and a new home for the Shropshire Disability Consortium.

The money will also go towards funding the council's first one stop shop where residents can enquire about council services.

Monkmoor Resource Centre, Shrewsbury, is to be completely replaced and Market Drayton's Resource Centre will be moved to a new site in the town area.

Councillors' delight

Helena Lane House, Ludlow, will be demolished and a new resource centre will be built on the existing site.

Councillors have welcomed the chance to stop services being provided from inappropriate premises.

Roger Walker, leader of Shropshire County Council, said: "We are delighted to get the go-ahead for our project, which will bring real improvements to council facilities.

"This is the result of successful partnerships, working both within the county council, the primary care trust and with representatives of the local community."