PARISH councillors have objected to proposals to expand a Winterbourne valley care home – with a neighbour saying the changes will make parking problems worse.

The plans for the Casterbridge Lodge home at Winterbourne Steepleton include a two-storey extension to provide extra-care accommodation and to make alterations to the main entrance and residential day room.

‘Pods’ for staff accommodation are also being proposed within the grounds.

In its objection the parish council say that surface water in the area drains into the sewage system and the additional rooms will only add to the potential for problems.

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The neighbouring landowner has written to Dorset Council to say there are already problems with people parking on his property, the extension likely to make the situation worse.

Site plans for a new entranceSite plans for a new entrance (Image: Western Design Architects) Landscape changes are being proposed as part of the works along with changes to the current car parking layout which is designed to add an extra five spaces to the existing twelve.

If Dorset Council agree the changes it will add about 336 square metres to the existing space – roughly a third increase on the existing 34 bedroom suites and two day rooms, to provide 12 new bedroom suites and a further day room.

The plans also include two small, single-storey buildings, creating 4 bedrooms served by a communal bathroom, to provide short-term overnight staff accommodation. One of these is to the rear of the site, the other on the higher ground to the east, in the levelled area where a timber outbuilding was placed.

The changes will also mean an increase from the existing 37 full-time and 2 part-time staff to 44 full-time and 4 part-time.

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The proposals ask for outbuildings to the north-west corner of the site to be demolished and the space used for staff parking, providing four spaces, with the parking to the front, near the entrance, reconfigures to provide further car parking spaces.

Public comments on the application have now closed although the application can be seen, in full, on the Dorset Council website – ref 2024/01024.