An elderly day care centre is poised to open in Bessbrook.
It will be located at 29 Convent Hill, which is currently described as an “elderly residential home”.
An application for a change of use has been submitted to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for consideration.
The proposals have been drawn up by GL Care Ltd, the company behind Bardan Cottage, which already operates two day care centres in Northern Ireland – at Dunmurry and Newcastle.
The company has already announced its intentions to open at Bessbrook in June of this year.
Bardan Cottage, on its dedicated website, confirms: “We’re so pleased to be able to offer the same exceptional standards of day care that we provide in Newcastle and Dunmurry to the local people of Newry.
“Bardan Cottage Newry will become and invaluable resource for the elderly members of the Newry community and we can’t wait to meet all the new faces that will some become part of the Bardan family.
“Works are currently ongoing to provide the same high level of quality facilities that can be found in our Newcastle and Dunmurry units, with maybe a few surprises thrown in.”
Indeed, drawings accompanying the application do show a number of special features including a cinema and sweet shop!
Other features include a hair salon, library, pot plant room, a sun room and dining area, day rooms and activity rooms. These are expected to mirror similar ‘activity’ rooms in the other two homes which allow visitors to enjoy a game of pool, chess, or numerous other hobbies and pastimes including painting, crafting and many more.
The new day care centre will includes a kitchen and toilet provision, as well as an assisted shower and toilet, staff office and storage.
The hair salon and sweets outlet will be accessed off a main hall – with roof lights above – and each will have its own internal ‘shop front’ inside the substantially-sized building.
All of these are to be located on the ground floor and the first floor will be geared at staff, with office accommodation, training room, staff room and bathroom.
Bardan Cottage is already urging anyone with any enquiries or those wishing to add “you or your loved one’s names to the waiting list” for Bessbrook to contact via email to newry@bardancottage.com.
The plans are now due to be advertised with a formal decision expected very shortly.
