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PREVIOUS UPDATES |
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DECEMBER 2005
The Project Managers attended our Parish Council Meeting on 8th December and put Parish Councillors in the picture with regard to the plans for the future of Harvard House. There is a leaflet available for anyone interested in the proposals. The leaflet includes a feedback form for completion for personal views to be expressed. This must be returned by 20th February 2006. If anyone would like a leaflet please leave a message for me at the Parish Council office (813242) and I will ensure they receive a copy. Any interesting progress will be updated on this website as it becomes available. Veronica |
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JANUARY 2004
Since the Cabinet meeting last July I again requested that consideration be given by the County Council that some Ringmer residents who need long term care be allowed to go to Harvard Road. Unfortunately this request has been denied with the following comment.
“I have noted your comments about continuing the embargo on the long-stay residents. You are aware of our professional advice to the Cabinet and of their decision for it to continue.”
In November I received an update of the current position. The County Council have visited a number of different projects developed by other local and health authorities to learn from their experiences.
They have also been in discussion with the Public, Private, Partnership Programme to explore that funding stream. Currently they are waiting until the Health Authority start their review of the community hospitals in order that they can co-ordinate the planning of the development of Harvard Road with Health and maximise the funding streams.
The County Council hope that things will begin to move at the start of the new financial year ie April 2004. Veronica
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APRIL 2004
The County Council Cabinet has agreed to link the development of Harvard Road with a new home in the Uckfield area and a new home in Rother. As soon as the Project Director, for what is likely to be a PFI project, is known and the way forward becomes more clear we will again update the web.
Unfortunately this is all likely to take a considerable length of time. Nevertheless I remain hopeful that the long-term benefits of new homes in both Wealden and Rother (presumably catering for those areas) will leave places available in Harvard Road to cater more for our local community. Veronica |
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OCTOBER 2005
The long awaited decision by the Government has now been received and our Home will definitely be rebuilt on the same site. The County Council will be producing a leaflet providing information and inviting views from interested parties during a consultation period due to begin in December.
This will all take time but I'm delighted we have managed to keep "our Home in our Village". Veronica |
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JULY 2003
At the East Sussex County Council Cabinet meeting on 29 July 2003 it was agreed that ways of raising funding for a complete rebuild of Harvard Road would be looked at by the Director of Social Services. We can only hope that an acceptable outcome will be found. Although they would not agree to my proposal that during this interim period long term residents should be admitted (with conditions attached), our worst case scenario has not materialised.
Future developments will be watched with interest and information will be added to this web site as it becomes available. Veronica |
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NOVEMBER 2006
Outline plans have been approved by East Sussex County Council Planning Committee at their meeting on Wednesday 22 November 2006. It will be some time before the full planning application is submitted but I know you will all be pleased to hear that we are 'on track' Cllr Veronica Humphrey November 2006
Link here to Cllr Humphrey's address to the Planning Meeting |
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NOVEMBER 2006
The following are extracts from the (unconfirmed) minutes of the Annual General meeting of the "Friends of Harvard House" held on 30th November 2006
The Chairman reported "….. it is now known that at a recent County Council meeting the outline plans for the new Harvard House have been approved, with re-building on the existing site at a date yet to be decided.
Veronica advised that the outline plans for a new building on the existing site had been passed at the County Council meeting of 22nd November. A copy of these plans was presented by her for inspection during the meeting. Date for rebuilding not yet confirmed, dependent on progress of other projects within the area, particularly Uckfield. When the current Residents of Ridgewood Rise (Uckfield) had moved into their new home, Ringmer Residents would move to Uckfield temporarily until the new Ringmer building is completed.
Peter S proposed a vote of thanks to Veronica for all her dedicated hard work in fighting to keep Harvard House on the same site in Ringmer. It was felt that without her gigantic and tireless effort, the existing Home would almost certainly have closed down. (J Skeef, website editor) |
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FEBRUARY 2005
No doubt you were all beginning to think nothing was happening about the future of our Home. Be assured things are slowly moving forward! I keep in constant touch with the Project Managers who have been preparing a document to submit to the Department of Health in March. Approval has now been given to present it for consideration and it is very much hoped it will be successful. Assuming the Department of Health approve it then the proposal is for the new Home to be built on the same site; for it to provide for a combination of - respite care; long stay and nursing care. It is also hoped that there may be consulting rooms and a community café.
As soon as the plans are more definite it is hoped there will be a meeting when anyone interested will be able to attend to hear about the future of our Home.
Veronica |
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OCTOBER 2004
Two managers have now been appointed by East Sussex County Council to take forward the proposals for the future of 39 Harvard Road. As soon as more specific information is to hand this site will again be up-dated. Veronica |
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OCTOBER 2006
The outline planning application for our new Home has now been submitted and it is likely to be considered at the ESCC planning committee meeting in November. This site will be updated as and when I receive news - but things are always moving in the background Veronica |
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NOVEMBER 2006
On 6th September I attended a "Bidders Information Day" in the Conference Centre at Sussex University. Although designed to inform the possible tenderers for the project I found it particularly informative.
We are part of a wider project for East Sussex which will provide four new Homes. Rother and Hastings sites are now owned by the County Council and have outline planning permission and, of course, Ringmer already has its outline planning permission. A site in Wealden is in the process of being obtained; hopefully in the very near future. Once all four have their outline planning permission then it's "all go".
Most importantly for us - Ringmer is on track to have a 44-bed Home. The whole building work is scheduled to start in 2009 with completion of our new Harvard House in 2011. (Slow but sure !!)
Cllr Veronica Humphrey September 2007 |