THE OWNERS of a care home where 14 residents died following a fire have applied for planning permission to develop a new multi-million pound facility close to where the tragedy struck.
Husband and wife Thomas and Anne Balmer and their son Alan were the owners of the Rosepark Care Home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, where a blaze in 2004 led to the death of 14 residents, aged 75 to 98.
A Fatal Accident Inquiry found the deaths could have been avoided if the home had a suitable fire safety plan.
It has now emerged the Balmers have submitted plans to built a new 61-roomed home in nearby Bothwell, on a site formerly occupied by civil engineering group WJ Harte. A detailed planning application has been lodged by Balmer Developments to build the new three storey home that will feature a cinema and hairdressing salon. The family's multi-million pound business also includes care homes in Uddingston and Coatbridge.
South Lanarkshire Council has yet to consider the application but some local residents have complained of potential traffic congestion and the loss of existing buildings.
Gary Sharp wrote: "This construction is completely out of character for the street and will result in a dangerous level of traffic on a bend that is already blind and prone to near collisions, not to mention the risk to pedestrians.
"The building that currently exists is a very attractive sandstone building and efforts should be made to retain the structure and make use of it. Given the council's deplorable record in saving buildings in this area, I would hope some effort would be given to this."
Jan McCrone said the design was "industrial and unattractive". He added: "It equates to an eyesore in an attractive and quiet residential street. We have no three storey buildings anywhere else in Bothwell and to propose one on a quiet neighbourhood street is preposterous. This development has no respect for the history or look of this conservation village and residential street setting."
George Waterston added: "It is regrettable that there is to be further loss of our heritage in that the village will lose this imposing Victorian building."
The Bothwell home will have 29 car parking spaces and cover an area of 53,800 sq ft.
A 141 day inquiry into the Rosepark incident found a fire broke out in a cupboard on the night of January 31, 2004, and ripped through the building. Sheriff Principal Brian Lockhart ruled that "some or all" of the deaths could have been prevented. He said fire precautions and training at the Lanarkshire home had been "seriously defective" and that mistakes during the building's construction meant fire dampers were never fitted. Two unsuccessful attempts were made to prosecute the Balmers over the deaths.
The Balmers did not respond to requests for comment.
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