Fence plan at Winwick mental health unit (From This Is Cheshire)

Fence plan at Winwick mental health unit

4:00pm Thursday 27th May 2010 in News

A PLANNING application designed to give young people receiving mental health support greater freedom at Winwick’s Fairhaven Unit has been submitted.

5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which owns and operates the in-patient facility, is requesting permission to build an 11.5ft mesh fence within the boundaries of the existing wooden one.

Linda Kellie, assistant director of child and adolescent mental health services, said: “A new study has shown that just five minutes exercise in a green space can boost mental health.

“However, young people can on occasion make attempts to climb fences and this has restricted our ability to offer outdoor activities.

“Our proposed solution is to erect a fence which is difficult to climb and therefore reduces the risk of young people falling and hurting themselves.

“That way, we can allow young people greater access to outdoor spaces – something that is proven to promote recovery.”

In the week starting June 14, Linda and other trust managers will be making house calls to residents living near the Birch Avenue unit.

She added: “We understand that there can be a stigma attached to mental ill health.

“We feel it is important to give people who live near Fairhaven the opportunity to ask questions so we can offer assurances and promote better understanding.”

Fairhaven Unit opened last June and is designed to meet the needs of people aged 14 to 18.