RESIDENTS of a council owned elderly care home in Skipton are being told they will be given the opportunity to move into a new ‘extra care’ facility currently being built in the town.

Discussions with residents, their families and staff at the 29 bed Ashfield Care Home in Carleton Road, which is owned by North Yorkshire Council, have been taking place to provide an ‘update’ on what could happen once the ‘Eller Beck’ Extra Care facility is completed later this year, said the county council this week.

The 58 apartment scheme currently being built on the site of the former St Monica’s Convent, off Raikes Road, will be aimed at people over the age of 55 and will be one of more than 20 schemes developed by the county council in the last ten years.

Extra care schemes allow people to live in their own homes, with care and support, and can also incorporate GP surgeries, community libraries, respite services and specialist accommodation for people with dementia.

The Eller Beck scheme, when plans were first lodged with Craven District Council towards the end of 2018, following a drop-in consultation event, were to include communal facilities, a café- bistro, hair salon, lounge and activity room.

The county council has stressed that no decision has been made about the future of Ashfield Care Home, which at its last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection received an overall ‘good’ rating, and that all it is doing is updating people on the progress of the Eller Beck Extra Care facility.

Dale Owens, assistant director for health and adult services, North Yorkshire County Council, said: “We have held a meeting with staff and residents of Ashfield Elderly Persons Home this week to update people about the progress of our new Extra Care scheme in Skipton, which is called Eller Beck and which is currently being built on the former site of St Monica’s Convent.

“Extra Care supports people to live in their own homes, with care and support, when needed, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

“Extra Care schemes may also incorporate GP surgeries, community libraries, short break respite services and specialist accommodation for people living with dementia.

“Over the past decade, we have developed 23 Extra Care schemes and over 1,200 units across North Yorkshire’s market towns.

“A £9 million capital programme has underpinned the programme with more to come.”

He added: “This Extra Care scheme in Skipton is set to be open later this year and all permanent residents of Ashfield will have nomination rights to a flat within the new scheme.

“No decision, however, has yet been taken about the future of Ashfield and we are now beginning a process with staff, residents, their relatives and people using other services at Ashfield to help us determine if Eller Beck is a suitable replacement and to help us consider all options.”

Limestone View Extra Care facility in Settle, run for the county council by Housing and Care 21, was the first of its kind to be opened by North Yorkshire, and another is currently under construction in Bentham.