Becky R.
1/5
I can’t speak for the quality of care and education at this Witherslack Group establishment, but staff attitude right the way through the company leaves a great deal to be desired.
The facility was created on the site of an original private house with a small holding attached on a quiet country lane just outside Albrighton. During the development of the site, the contractors were considerate and mindful of the narrow lane location and the constraints of access.
Highways stipulated the importance of accessing the facility via the wider lanes in order to minimise damage to verges and to increase safely for the cyclists, dog walkers and horse riders using the smaller lanes (also a busy national cycle route) The recommended access route was even resurfaced making the approach far easier.
Since the site went ‘live’ with residents and staff moving in, attitudes have changed and the area is now blighted with selfish, ignorant staff who navigate their approach via the route stipulated by highways NOT to use due to the aspects mentioned above. Another factor is that the approved access route has NO residential properties along it whereas the route chosen by the thoughtless speeders has 6 residences affected by the traffic.
Children are often out on the lane unaccompanied by staff, children regularly attempt to breach the boundaries of private dwellings with no intervention from staff, children trespass onto local land with no intervention from staff, police have knocked local residents up in the middle of the night searching for absconders, children are regularly perused by a pool vehicle along the lane when they have absconded, when children are out with permission, they are often 50-100 metres away from any adult and openly breach the boundaries of private land. A fast dual carriageway and railway track are accessible to these young unsupervised children. Children are often stumbled across in the middle of the lane - which is national speed limit - someone will be hurt.
Personally, whilst out walking my dog recently, I heard a vehicle fast approaching, I managed to call my dog in and get to the side of the verge before the pool vehicle skidded to a halt; the driver flashing me a disgusted glance that I’d interfered with his rapid journey back to site. No sooner had he disappeared and my dog was loosed back onto a longer lead, a second pool vehicle was behind me (which I couldn’t hear due to the roar of the previous vehicle’s engine as it sped away). This vehicle had one of the residents in the passenger seat, a young child and a staff member driving, who barely managed to stop before they were right on top of me - as I quickly gathered up the lead of my dog whilst stood in the middle of the lane - the driver started to drive at me with a fixed, blank look on her face, it was deliberate. The car was close enough for me to place my hand on the bonnet in a bid to halt it and wait for us to clear their path. It was scary, but more so, it was a perfect reflection of the general abysmal attitude of staff.
We have sent many emails and originally had assurances from an area manger, that efforts would be made to ensure all staff and visitors respected the recommendations of highways and the local residents/businesses but these have not manifested any changes.
Our polite but frustrated tone emails are now ignored.
We have applied to highways to carry out a review of access to the site and this is an open and ongoing case.
So, based on the absolute and utter disregard for safety of the home residents, local lane users and surrounding villagers, the centre needs to consider its values - boasted on the Witherslack Group website as those which endeavour to develop the best a person can be… start with your staff Gables Learning Centre, and the children might stand a chance…
