Future of Leanchoil laid out at Forres Town Hall

AROUND 120 people attended Forres Town Hall last night to help shape the future of Leanchoil.

Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) and TSI (Third Sector Interface) Moray organised the consultation event on behalf of Forres Community Council (FCC) to provide an update on exciting new developments for the site and ask attendees for input following a Community Asset Transfer from NHS Grampian.

FCC chairman Graham Hilditch spoke of the history of the hospital, including his personal memories, before bringing the audience up to speed on developments over the last two-and-a-half years since it was closed.

He said: "We are about to set up a Leanchoil Trust, request a CAT from NHS Grampian, apply for funding for purchase of the building, and put a plan in place which would enable Erskine to be in the building later on this year.

"Your input and ongoing support will be crucial to the success of the project. Without the funding, and public backing we cannot purchase Leanchoil."

Lord-Lieutenant for Moray, Major General Seymour Monro also spoke of his family's links to Leanchoil before revealing plans for the three main elements of its future: the main building; the maternity wing and the nurses’ home.

He said: "Erskine have formally declared an interest to set up a Veterans’ Activity Centre similar to the one they opened two years ago at their main site at Bishopton near Glasgow. This facility would be open to veterans of all ages in the Forres area and possibly beyond.

"All of us in the Steering Group visited Erskine before Christmas and it is a truly inspirational place: happy residents and participants; outstanding staff and first class facilities. Over 150 veterans attend the centre each week; ages range from 27 to 92 and some 33 per cent suffer from some form of PTSD. Activities in the Centre include painting, IT and woodworking.

"We and Erskine start planning the enabling works in two weeks in order to have the centre up and running this autumn. We are sharing some of these initial costs. The main building is in a reasonable state and our advisors estimate it will take a further £75 to £100k to have it fit for occupation- a sum which will largely be found by Erskine when their Board have given the green light."

Maj Gen Monro explained that the maternity wing's refurbishment would require around £2.5million to make it a centre for health and wellbeing for the Forres community in a few years.

He said: "We have been in discussions with the Moray Integrated Joint Health Board who are about to complete a major strategic review which will identify what sort of health care will be needed in the future and how it should be delivered.

"Possibilities are NHS intermediate care, prehab and rehab, mental health care for the young and old, physiotherapy, consulting and treatment rooms for a variety of local care organisations."

Finally, he turned to the nurses' home behind the main building.

"Having considered various options, our view now is that both Erskine and some of the care organisations may well be interested in using accommodation for their residents, patients and possibly staff. We would intend transforming the home into variety of types of accommodation from en suite room to flats. Funds will have to be raised to convert and refurbish it., costing in the order of £1.5million."

Other buildings on site including the Gate Lodge, a bungalow and the Scottish Ambulance Service garage and office which will be refurbished in time and put to appropriate use.

Maj Gen Monro finished: "We are very confident that Erskine’s Board will take the decision to set up a Veteran’s Activity Centre at Leanchoil this autumn. And we’d be grateful for your views on what activities might be provided.

"Erskine and the future occupants of the maternity wing will be compatible and will be able to share many of the facilities on site such as dining and recreational areas, the gym and physio room as well as sharing some administrative and upkeep tasks.

"As we form the Leanchoil Trust which we hope your will become members of –for free! - we ask you to help FACT with their Community Impact Assessment work. Once completed FACT’s report will contribute to our application to the Scottish Land Fund. An award should enable us to buy the site from the NHS."

Following the speeches, the attendees, who were sat around tables in the main hall, were asked to spend 30 minutes discussing each of three questions: 'What do you see as the potential benefits of the community owning and managing Leanchoil?; Do you have any concerns about the ownership of Leanchoil and how can these be addressed?; What do you think are the potential health and wellbeing benefits from the plans developed so far?'

Their answers are being collated by FACT as part of an impact assessment that will be used in support of an application to the Scottish Land Fund for renovation funding.

Related article: Community invited to hear plans for Leanchoil