e-Petition - Petition against Castle Care Home in Seven Sisters

We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to examine the circumstances surrounding the proposed sitting of a Castle Care home at 97-98 Dulais Road, Seven Sisters, Neath, SA10 9ES.

Additional information (supplied by the Petitioner)

Castle Care homes are a private company that wants to make a profit out of bringing problem children to our village.

Their web site: http://www.castlecaregroup.co.uk/about-us.htm

What problems?  

1. The children are too difficult to place in foster care.

• Castle Care specialise in working with young people who have complex emotional needs that are often expressed through challenging behaviour and issues with social relationships.

2. The children are too difficult to be placed in our schools.

• We have very good mainstream schools and special schools linked to our authority where transport is provided.  These children need to be educated on site, therefore one can assume that these children must have serious social and behavioural problems, as stated on Castle Care Homes website.

3.The children will be allowed without supervision into the community

• The property is situated in a residential street surrounded by children of all ages.  Given the type of child being placed within the care home and having been informed by the Regional Manager Dan Svenson of Castle Care Homes that the children in care will be free to socialise and mix with the local community, we do not feel that this is appropriate or safe for the local children.

4.Will be living opposite children’s recreation facility and playground

• There is a local children’s playground not more than 100 metre away from the property and a local golf range directly opposite, which are used by the local community and schools.  As stated above we do not feel that this is appropriate or safe for the local children to use if those cared for in the proposed home are allowed access as suggested by the Regional Manager, given their behavioural problems and the danger they may impose to the local children.

5.The property’s location is not suitable for these types of children.

• Although detached, is close to its neighbouring properties.  This is not a secure home nor suitable for teaching purposes given the close proximity to the neighbours.  Noise will be of an issue.

6. Our village has more than its fair share of care homes with six homes (one of which is a secure home) in a population of 2,552 persons approx.

Petition Signatories