A FORMER care home in Staveley will not become a social care facility unless a community trust can outbid other buyers after the council put it on the open market. 

This means The Abbey could be bought by enterprises such as hotel chains, warned Staveley Community Trust (SCT) who wanted the facility to alleviate the issue of social care patients having to stay in hospital, known as 'bed-blocking.' 

The SCT business case would have developed the building into accommodation for staff and 16 apartments for independent living.

The Westmorland Gazette: Fran Richardson from the trust said that she did not expect the council to change its mind Fran Richardson from the trust said that she did not expect the council to change its mind (Image: Fran Richardson)

The Abbey shut down after Cumbria County Council (CCC) approved a closure proposal in February 2020.

At the time councillor Patricia Bell, the member for health and care services said: "There was a clear view through the consultation that some form of care provision in the village was seen as a priority

“We need to continue to work together with the community to find the right way forward."

The Westmorland Gazette: Staveley Community Trust was going to protest outside The Abbey and may still hold demonstrations Staveley Community Trust was going to protest outside The Abbey and may still hold demonstrations (Image: Fran Richardson)

However, after over two years of negotiations, SCT has not put together a plan that could satisfy the council. 

A spokesman for the council said: “Regretfully, after due consideration of their business case, the county council does not believe that their plans demonstrate a viable future use for this building."

CCC said it did not want to transfer a 'substantial asset' to local volunteers that would 'struggle with attempting to run' what it deemed a non-viable proposition. 

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If SCT wants The Abbey to become a social care facility, it will have to put together a competitive amount of money by mid-January with a 10 per cent deposit required to make the bid and full payment due within one month of a successful bid. 

Fran Richardson from SCT says that this is unlikely for a community fund.

Ms Richardson said: "We don't expect them to change their decision. We're just making it very clear we are very upset about the decision that they have made."

Last week a Crowdfunder raised £43,500 in five days, with £250,000 needed by January 10 to respond to the CCC sale.