THE Labour candidate for Wellington East in next year’s Somerset Council elections has spoken out in favour of plans to bring the former Beechtrees children's respite care home back into use.

Announcing his decision to stand, Ian Chetland described the new supported living home in Wellington as “a good start” adding he wanted Somerset Council to explore more opportunities to deliver adult social care services directly.

Somerset Council announced plans in early October to transform the building into supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Discovery, a Somerset-based not-for-profit charity has agreed a long-term lease on the Beechtrees site in partnership with the council and work is underway to adapt the council-owned building.

It will provide accommodation where residents can receive specialist support and live as independently as possible, while remaining close to the people and community that matter most to them.

The new service is planned to open in January 2027.

Ian Chetland said: “I warmly welcome the plans to bring Beechtrees back into use.

“Providing more local accommodation and specialist support for adults with learning disabilities and autism is a positive step for those who will live there and their families.

“It's encouraging to see a publicly owned building being used to meet an important need within our community.

“Looking ahead, I would also like Somerset Council to explore opportunities to deliver more adult social care services directly.

“Beechtrees is a welcome step forward for Wellington, but our ambitions must extend across Somerset. Everyone who needs adult social care deserves high-quality, reliable support, wherever they live.

"I hope Somerset Council will build on this development by expanding local care provision across the whole of Somerset, while also taking a greater role in directly delivering adult social care services as part of its wider Adult Social Care Improvement Plan.”