Growing Together

In order to keep everyone in touch with the exciting new developments on Black Road we are producing a newsletter entitled ‘Growing Together’.

If you don’t receive it but would like to then please send your e-mail address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here is a taster from the first edition:

November 2011

"As I write, the first steps in the journey of the building itself are about to be taken – the electricity supply to the site will be turned off, and the elderly garages which are there (see picture) will be demolished, clearing the way for construction to begin.

We are all – residents, families, staff - at the beginning of a momentous year of change, and there is great deal to be done.

There was a drop-in session on November 8 at Sutton Church Hall, attended by parents/families; Clive Anderton from the architects Michael Hyde & Associates; staff from Cheshire East Council; Lynne Edwards, myself and other staff from Rossendale. We had the plans there, and there were a lot of conversations, as you may imagine, around many aspects of the development.

Naturally parents expressed concerns about the change, worried that some the things which make Woodlands such a good place for their relative to live will be lost in the process. Some of the main points were :

-          Some relatives are concerned about the lack of a large communal area in the building for tenants to all meet up to celebrate birthdays and the like;

-          Who will share with whom? And who decides that? Can friends stay together?

-          Isn’t there a danger that this person will become isolated in his/her own room, without the larger group to be involved in?

-          How will my relative prepare his/her own food and will the staff still be there to help?

There were several other concerns, questions and requests. Equally, there have been comments like :

-          “About time! He has always wanted his own home, he wants to be the same as his siblings” and

-          “X would like his own room, bathroom and lounge, he can’t wait”.

To view the whole of the November edition of Growing Together, please click here .