A new day care centre and workshop for adults with learning difficulties in Oakham has been approved. 

Rutland County Councillors went against the recommendation of its planning officers and decided that the space within the Mowbray Interiors unit in Tungsten Park would be suitable for the new venture. 

Council officers had cited the loss of limited industrial space and the lack of outdoor space creating an oppressive atmosphere as reasons for refusal but the elected councillors on the planning committee disagreed after hearing from Support and Connections owner Deborah Crate. 

Rutland County Councillors went against the advice of Council Officers to reject the application. (Photo: Nub News)

She told the committee, which met at Catmose House, Oakham, last night (Tuesday, November 19), that she has run a care business in Melton for many years, and after being contacted by three people asking for provision in Rutland, she had decided to expand her business. She employs 12 staff in Melton and provides care for 30 people and will take on four staff in Oakham.  

She said: "To our service users it is their place of work, it is not all about care, it is about supporting people. It may be seen as a limited contribution to the economy, and thereby failing planning policy but it is a huge deal to our service users who take great pride in what they produce themselves and the benefit of this should not be underestimated. On behalf of all our staff and more importantly the people we support, we hope that you too can see the benefits of our proposal."  

Asked why she had wanted to set up the unit at Tungsten Park, which is home to various trade counters, she said there was a lack of space elsewhere and the unit was new and modern. 

She said: "This is a brand new, fantastic building and is a brilliant environment for the service users. Why should they always have to be shoved away in old run down buildings that have nothing. This is a fantastic opportunity."

Councillors raised concern about the use of a forklift truck within the unit, but she said it would not be in operation when her service users were there. 

When asked about whether noise from the area would upset the care users, she said they would be making enough noise of their own when doing their woodwork. 

Officers warned that if the application was approved to turn a light industry unit into a care facility it could set a precedent. 

Cllr David Wilby (Con) backed the venture. 

He said: "We have had an expert come on and indicated that this is a really good facility, she has people who are well trained in looking after those people and it would give a great opportunity for people to develop some skills and you never know, perhaps because it is sitting within an area, where there are lots of other folk coming through, may even lead to a channel of work going forward.  

"I can't help thinking that in this day and age we need to be increasing our help to the care sector. This seems to me to be a project that we should support." 

It was a close decision, as Cllr Raymond Payne (Lib Dem) had recommended that the officers recommendation to refuse was supported, but only two other councillors agreed with him and the vote was not passed. An alternative proposal by Cllr Kevin Corby (Ind) to approve the planning permission was then put forward, which was agreed six votes in favour, with two against.  

The committee delegated authority to the chair of the committee, Cllr Nick Begy (Ind), his vice chair and officers to come up with conditions, including that the permission was personal to this application and the care use would cease if the applicant moved out of the unit. 

Also on the meeting agenda, was an application by committee member, Cllr Abigail West (Lib Dem) to turn agricultural land at her property in Main Street, Barrow into a garden extension. 

Cllr West and fellow Liberal democrat councillors Christine Wise and Cllr Payne removed themselves from the meeting and the application was granted. 

There is also an ongoing application at Rutland County Library. (Photo: Grace Kennington)

A plan to alter the storage space at Oakham Library and turn it into a new youth club space was also granted permission. 

The renovation includes replacing the current sliding door with a new glazed shop front. There will also be wheelchair access and inside the 55 sqm space there will be a small storage space, cleaner's cupboard, accessible toilet, plus the larger space for the group. There will not be any changes to the remainder of the library on Catmose Street, which also has a family hub alongside its library facilities and office spaces.