28 May 2008

Bontnewydd Children's Home to close and relocated in Caernarfon

Residents in Caernarfon have contacted Caernarfon Online to show their concerns about a children's home'which is to be built near their properties. Caernarfon Online can exclusively reveal that a new Home is to be built on the site of the former Syr Huw Owen school on Llanberis Road. One resident who wished to remain anonymous told us.

" We have all heard about the problems residents at Bontnewydd have endured for a number of years, problems of vandalism and theft occurring at a regular basis. I am very concerned that we will now have to endure the same and it seems we do not have a say in the matter, as the council has already made up it's mind. Some people have bought their own homes and God help them if they try to sell, this will no doubt affect the value of their properties".

Caernarfon Online would like to point out that there is not necessarily a connection between the problems of theft and vandalism in Bontnewydd and the home.

Caernarfon Online asked about the new home and this is the response we received.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said:

“There are over 160 children and young people in Gwynedd who, for various reasons, can’t live with their own families. Some of them need to be looked after for a short period of time until family problems are resolved, others for longer periods.

”Whilst many of these children and young people live with foster carers, some live at residential units like Bontnewydd which has provided a safe and caring home for generations of Gwynedd children. There are currently 5 young people living at the Bontnewydd unit.

”Built in 1902, the Unit at Bontnewydd is no longer suitable to be used as a modern residential unit, and Gwynedd Council is working with NCH Cymru to develop a new and improved location for the home.

“We have decided to build a new unit on the site of the former Lower Syr Huw Owen school, and initial planning and design work is currently being undertaken. The Council and NCH Cymru will be consulting with the local community in the coming weeks, which follows an initial consultation which has taken place with the local elected member. 

“It is envisaged that the new unit will cater for up to 5 children and young people when completed.”

Over the past 20 years, Gwynedd Council has worked closely with the Cartref Bontnewydd Trust to provide a residential children’ home, and whilst the Council is looking for a new building to locate the residential unit at Bontnewydd, they look forward to continue to work in partnership with the Trust for years to come.

The current residential unit building was originally opened as an orphanage in 1902 and developed into a children’s home, both of which were established and run by Cartref Bontnewydd Trust. However in the mid 1980’s, with changes introduced to changing public policy, and increased emphasis on family based care, Cartref Bontnewydd Trust ceased to operate a children’s home and moved to work into the field of foster care and will continue to operate from other premises on the current site .