THE people of Central Fife will next Thursday get the chance to find out all about how the care village, which will replace the two council run residential homes in Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly, will work.

A drop-in event is to be held in Lumphinanns Community Primary School’s classroom six, from 4pm to 7pm, on Thursday 17th to give the public more details about the care village which is to be built on a site which encompasses Cedar Crescent and Sycamore Crescent, in Lumphinnans.

The plans propose a 60 bed care home and day care centre for the site to replace the services currently provided at Jenny Gray House, in Lochgelly, and Valley House, Cowdenbeath.

Alongside this would be 30 one and two bedroom ‘extra care’ housing properties in a complex setting with communal facilities.

Fife Council’s social work department explained this week that the the ‘Extra care’ housing was about responding to individual needs to ensure that older people have a range of housing options rather than the traditional sheltered housing model.

“It lets them live independently in a modern caring environment with extra support available when needed,” said a spokesperson for the Social Work Department.

“Tenants have their own individual home, with their own front door. ‘Extra care’ properties are homes that are tenant-focused, welcoming, fully accessible, inclusive, and encouraging for family and friends to visit”.

A similar project is planned for Glenrothes to replace Alan McClure House.

The projects are part of the Council’s Affordable Housing and Re-provision of Care for Older People’ programmes and the planning application for these developments are currently being prepared.

As part of this work, Fife Council is keen for local residents to go along and give their views as it may help shape the detail of the applications.

The people of the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area and the residents of Lumphinanns, where the project will be centred, are being encouraged to go along and have a look at the plans.

The drop-in events are arranged for: Tuesday in Glenrothes and Thursday for Lumphinnans.

Anyone who isn’t able to make it along to the event can contact Debbie Neillings, Housing Project Officer on 03451 55 55 55 (ext 496921) or Stephen Smith, Project Manager (Social Work) on 03451 55 55 55 (ext 470704) for more information on the projects.

Once submitted, the planning applications will be available to view online at www.fifedirect.org.uk and the standard consultation process for planning applications will begin.