A FORMER care home closed following a critical inspection report and police investigation is becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour, a council has been warned.
The Arthur Jenkins care home in Blaenavon closed in November but there is now concern the site that is close to residential homes is at risk of vandalism.
As a result Torfaen Borough Council, which owns the building, has put up fencing around the site and metal shutters on all the ground-floor doors and windows at the Coedcae Road property.
However, the cabinet member responsible for council buildings, Labour’s Joanne Gauden, said at present it remains the responsibility of the tenants, private firm Spectrum which had been operating the home before its closure.
Blaeanavon’s independent councillor Janet Jones had asked, at the council’s January meeting, if any discussions on its future use have taken place and described the building as “becoming a site of anti-social behaviour and numerous rumours”.
Cllr Gauden said a “deeds of surrender” has been drafted by the council’s legal team but needs to be signed by the tenants before the building can be handed back.
She said: “However it is a condition the building is returned in an acceptable condition and at present it still has a lot of furniture and rubbish inside and outside, which is the tenant’s responsibility. They advised us last week they are in the process of clearing the building so I would expect it is returned to us by the end of the month. Until then, it remains the responsibility of the tenant.”
Metal shutters
The Croesyceiliog councillor said the council, at its own expense, has however put the metal shutters and fencing in place to limit anti-social behaviour.
She said when the keys are returned to the council it will survey the building and draw up an options appraisal which will also include establishing if there is any demand among council services to take it on.
Cllr Gauden said it is the intention to update local councillors and said she wanted to thank Cllr Jones for an “honest and open” approach to updating the community which she said she was sure would “dispel rumours”.
Cllr Jones said local councillors were having “consistent issues” related to the building and asked that local councillors are involved in discussions on the building and said: “It is important for residents in Blaenavon to have input into what is put there.”
In September it was confirmed a police investigation into potential neglect had been launched following a critical inspection report that prompted the council to step in while admissions were halted.