A ‘unique’ residential respite centre for people who have attempted or considered suicide is to be created in Prestwich. Maytree Respite Centre applied for planning permission to use a large five-bedroom detached house on Highfield Road, in a residential area close to Prestwich town centre and Metrolink station.
Bury Council’s planning committee heard from a senior police officer backing the plans who said that the proposed centre would be a ‘unique offer’ in Greater Manchester to help those recovering from mental health trauma.
In correspondence read to the committee, Detective Chief Inspector Jane Curran, the strategic lead for mental health at Greater Manchester Police said she was supportive and said it was particularly needed due to public health concerns about suicidal ideation which has been noted since coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A planning officer report, describing the use of the centre, said: “The property would accommodate a maximum of four guests at any one time, all of whom would be adults and who would be subject to a thorough assessment.
“Maytree Respite Centre has a strict no drugs or alcohol policy and does not offer accommodation to anyone who is currently misusing illegal substances or alcohol. Furthermore, the property would not be used as accommodation for anyone that is currently street homeless, experiencing a psychotic episode or is diagnosed with acute mental health issues that require specialist medical support.
“Guests would arrive on the same agreed day, stay four nights (five days) and leave on an agreed day. The property would be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by paid and volunteer staff, operating a 24 hour shift system.”
The report added that the maximum number of people at the property including staff, volunteers and guests will be up to 12, during the handover of a shift, this would last for approximately 30 minutes. There would be periods where there are no guests staying at the property, but staff would remain with the minimum of two staff being on-site.
Eight objections to the proposal were received by Bury council. One objector said property is not suitable as it falls within a residential area with families and a nearby primary school.
That objector said ‘young school children could potentially witness guests during a crisis which could be distressing’. Another objector spoke at the meeting.
He said: “I’m very concerned about the safety aspect of the potential people that will be using this facility as it is advertised for people who have made known attempts at suicide . I’m concerned about the nature of this being a 24-hour occupation by people who have potentially attempted suicide before and might do this again while in the premises.
“While feeling sorry for anyone in this predicament the NHS should be picking this up.”
The officer report noted that the applicant is a registered charity and has been providing this type of support facility for more than 20 years at their site in London, without a single high-risk incident having occurred.
The planning committee passed the application unanimously.
READ NEXT:
- The Mancunian Way: HS2 plans for Manchester are 'outdated'
- London's £19bn Elizabeth line opens today - but where's the Crossrail for the North?
- Government finally gives its reasons why Manchester can't have underground HS2 station - unlike London
- Greater Manchester unites against 'severely suboptimal' HS2 Bill in Parliament
- HS2 Manchester will 'define the north for centuries' if correct railway station built, says Andy Burnham
