Coventry children’s care home gets approval despite ‘massive concern’ among residents

A new children’s home has been approved in Coventry despite “massive concern” among residents. A semi-detached house on Daventry Road in Cheylesmore is to be converted into a care home for four children.

Permission was granted by the council on Wednesday 29 May. It followed a vote by councilors in favor of approving the scheme last week.

Their decision came after more than 100 people signed a petition calling on the council to reject the plans. Several residents spoke out against the scheme at last week’s meeting, raising concerns about anti-social behaviour, disorder, traffic and parking.

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A mother of two very young children who live close to home said: “Children in care homes are children who have not had the easiest start in life. We’re worried that they might have problems managing their emotions, managing their behaviour.”

She added: “We are concerned about the anti-social behavior side where our children might witness bullying, a lot of bad language.

Another neighbor claimed it would damage the area’s “quiet vibe” for local residents. She said a care home in a semi-detached property seemed “inappropriate” given the proximity to other homes.

Cheylesmore councilor Roger Bailey, speaking on behalf of local residents, said parking on the road was a “nightmare” and pointed out that the lane only had two spaces. Opposition Conservative Cllr noted that a “good number” of residents turned up to the meeting, adding: “there is massive concern here”.

But others defended the scheme. An agent for the applicant said it met parking standards and the departures and wines would be “no more than a typical family home”.

He said the use of the home is regulated, there will be trained support workers and it will have to follow strict Ofsted guidance. “Children who will be living in the home need a safe and secure community and should not automatically be considered a threat,” he added.

On anti-social behavior and disorder concerns, he said: “They don’t expect children to go into the community.” A council officer also told the meeting: “We don’t know that there will be anti-social behaviour,” adding: “You can have anti-social behavior within families as well.”

A report by council officers ahead of the meeting recommended the scheme for approval. The city solicitor also told councilors that anti-social behaviour, fear of crime and noise were assessed.

Discussing the decision, Cllr Kevin Maton said he found it “difficult” to see how it was any different to anyone else who wanted to live in a house. He said the key point was how it would work, adding that it was “very well regulated”.

Cllr Maton, from the ruling Labor group, pointed out that other 4-bedroom childcare homes are being run in the town. Their purpose is to avoid large “institutional” estates that are not considered to be in the best interests of children, he said.

“It would be preferable if the children were in a foster home, but we have a huge shortage of foster carers,” he added. Summing up, committee chair Cllr Lindsley Harvard echoed this view.

He said: “It has been said that it would not be better to have children in foster care than in these homes. Yes, it would, but the problem is we just can’t get enough foster parents.”

Almost all councilors at the meeting voted to give the scheme permission, with one abstention.

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