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Retirement village opens and is ‘just what we need’
By George Welch WITNEY’S new multi-million pound retirement village is officially open for business – and the town’s MP believes it is ‘just what the country needs’. Robert Courts formally opened the £35million Richmond Witney in Coral Springs Way last month. Speaking at the long-awaited opening, the Conservative MP said: “With a rapidly ageing population, this new facility is just the sort of thing the country needs, and Witney should be extremely proud of its new retirement village.” “This not only helps to address the requirements of the town and the surrounding communities, but also brings much needed new employment to west Oxfordshire.” Around 85 people are already employed at the village and this will increase to 150 when fully occupied. Work on the retirement village, which offers a variety of homes, care, services and facilities for the over 55s, began in 2014 and will provide accommodation for more that 200 older people when at full capacity. The four-hectare development includes a restaurant, gym, swimming pool, library, shop and outdoor bowling green. The village has stressed that all residents have registered with health centres following the closure of Deer Park Medical Centre in Edington Square. A spokesperson from developers
Richmond Villages said: “We were obviously disappointed when the Deer Park Medical Centre closed, as we had already established a good relationship with them and it was close and convenient for our residents. “However, all of our residents have been able to register with other health centres in the locality.” Richmond Villages will want to replicate the success of other retirement homes across the county following the release of new adult care data. Figures announced last week show that older people and those with learning disabilities across Oxfordshire receive better services from providers on average than the national average across England. A total of 82 per cent (189) of Oxfordshire’s 231 care providers are rated either ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ compared to 77 per cent of national providers, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Managing director of Richmond Villages Paddy Brice said: “Building a retirement village is always a huge undertaking, and we are delighted to have received such a positive reception here in west Oxfordshire.” He added that he was “delighted” to open Richmond’s second village in the county, following the opening of their Letcombe Regis village, near Wantage, seven years ago. The care home at the heart of the village provides 24-hour nursing and dementia care.
MP Robert Courts unveils a plaque to open the £35m Richmond Witney retirement village before addressing the assembled guest; right, Robert Courts chats to village ambassador Mary Thorne and Richmond Villages’ MD Paddy Brice
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