THE managing director of a children's home company has met with residents of Hampton and Malpas to discuss a care home application.

Bernie Gibson, who runs Compass Community, met with concerned members of the public at No Man's Heath and District Parish Council on Thursday, January 9.

Compass has recently put forward a planning application for a change of use on a house on Cholmondeley Road, from a normal residential home to one that can be used as a care home.

The company plans to use the house as a children's home for around five children, but residents are concerned with the location of the home, and the types of children it might be housing.

In a heated discussion at the meeting, Ms Gibson spent around an hour listening to what residents had to say, while attempting to answer their questions.

It was Ms Gibson's belief that she was attending the meeting to reassure residents of the types of children in the home, saying that if Hampton was good enough for the local residents, it was good enough for the home.

"I'm not saying all children are perfect, that would be ridiculous to say,” she said.

"If this community, with its good people, isn't the right place for these children, why is it the right place for your child?"

When asked if the location was right for children, Ms Gibson responded: "Life has moved on, we live in homes not orphanages now.

"I absolutely think this is the right place.

"You talk about an institution, I talk about a home. These children are not the people you think they are."

A large concern from several residents is whether the home would be housing children with problematic sexual behaviours (PSB), something Ms Gibson said would not be the case.

She said that of the 18 homes Compass run, only two were PSB homes and Compass would be happy to accept any restrictions that prevented the home from housing PSB children.

"We would be happy to be party to any restrictions that prevent a PSB," said Ms Gibson. "We were restricted on a home in Herefordshire."

When asked about why the location was picked, Ms Gibson said: "If this is not a suitable location, Ofsted will tell us.

"We look at the size, the location and the demand from the local authority.

"We provide placements for local children, which is children within 20 miles."

When asked about the education provision for the home, Ms Gibson said that while in theory children could be educated in a school such as Bishop Heber, they would likely be educated in the home or a specialised school.

"We would make sure the children would be educated," she said.

"When the children come, the likelihood is that we would educate the children in the homes, owing to learning delays.

"And even if they did access education, it would be in special schools."

The planning application is still up for determination from Cheshire West and Chester, with no decision being made before January 20.