Plans unveiled for new homefor disabled

The Shaftesbury Society wants to build a new Ashley House as soon as possible. The opening of a modern home for 15 physically disabled residents would mean the end for the well-known current home on Aldwick Road.

But its replacement would be one of the country's best examples of how to enable disabled people to enjoy independent living.

A spokesman for the charity said: 'We want to build a home of which we and Bognor can be proud. We want to hold our heads up high regarding the new home.

'We want it to provide the best possible service going into the future.'

This will be on a new site, in the Bognor area, which has yet to be decided. Once the deal has been agreed, the society would need planning permission for the multi-million pound building.

Shaftesbury fundraising manager Jonathan Storey told guests at the International End of the Pier film festival in Bognor the charity was determined to provide the latest equipment to its residents.

'Ashley House has welcomed many people through its doors but we want to build a new Ashley House here in Bognor.

'We want a modern building to allow its residents to live as independently as possible. We want to install modern equipment. The use of the house will be there but so is the challenge of building it.'

The Shaftesbury Society has announced the re-building of Ashley House to celebrate its 50th anniversary running the current home. It was 1957 when the charity took over Arthur's Home, a convalescent home for children, built in 1876 and named after a little boy who died. The society was worried about physically handicapped boys leaving school and being unable to return home because of a lack of proper care.

It feared many of them would have to spend their lives in hospital wards for chronically sick patients.

The home benefited from a 150,000 building appeal in 1980 to create a new front entrance and single rooms for four residents. The building's corridors were excavated and the west wing extended.

A new common room, kitchens, dining room, easier access to bathrooms and better laundry facilities were also included in the proposals.

But the times and the equipment available have changed considerably in the past 27 years to leave Ashley House '“ with 15 residents and 19 staff '“ at risk of being outdated. The Shaftesbury Society spokesman continued: 'Ashley House is recognised as a provider of high quality residential care in Bognor.

'It has been highly rated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, has an experienced and talented staff team and a great local reputation. Unfortunately, the building itself is getting past its best. It has served us well for many years.

'But, as government guidance and best practice have evolved, Ashley House no longer provides all the facilities which Shaftesbury would like to offer our residents.