SIR, At last, strong and logical views of residents have achieved a sensible planning decision. I refer to the appeal inspector’s decision to refuse planning consent for a care home on land adjacent to the health centre in Mably Way.

This does not mean the site can be used only for the necessary extension to our health centre to meet current and future needs of Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages but, hopefully, it will deter any other kind of development proposals causing extended and expensive procedures.

Maybe, if the health authority(ies) responsible for future health facilities, and others involved, prepare and submit their proposals for building and financing the extensions, it would help to safeguard this site for its most obvious purpose.

On another health issue highlighted in the Herald (November 27, page 13, “'Too many elderly’ being put in care”), I am well aware of the financial restraints being endured by local authorities — not to mention most private individuals — but for the county council to set itself “maximum targets” of placements rather than accepting its responsibilities towards the increasing number of the elderly suffering dementia and those for whom families cannot cope even with regular carer visits, does not seem to be the right approach or attitude.

There will come a time, very soon in some cases, when many people will have reached the base beyond which private finance can no longer pay for their care, even after selling their homes, and the council will then face greater expense.

I suppose the fact, told by a devoted partner, that a dementia sufferer in their mid-80s in a care home has to give social services £22 a month repaying attendance allowances may be some help, even though it will take until beyond 2020 to recover this ‘debt’ in full. . . “take care of the pence. . . .”

Jack Loftin, Charlton Village Road, Wantage