Kingston’s new dementia care home is facing backlash from locals worried it will turn into a pub.
Neighbours fear kids won’t be able to sleep if Surbitonian Gardens is allowed to sell booze and host outdoor events late into the night.
The home opened in August after Kingston Council leased it to provider Anavo Group for 25 years.
Anavo has applied to the council to sell booze until 11pm at the 80-bed home, which has a hair salon, café and gift shop.
It could also host plays from 2.30pm to 8pm, play live music until 10pm and hold dance shows until 10.30pm outside if the licence is granted.
But locals have called for the events and sale of booze to end at a “more reasonable” time, raising concerns about the late hours in a street with young families.
One objector wrote: “This is a residential area and we don’t want music and noise playing everyday and night.
"There are children that live on the road and they sleep during the day. This is a dementia home not a pub.
"We have had to live with the building noise and the rocking and cracking of our houses from this building being built.
"Now it is built, I don’t want to listen to singing and noise all day.”
A second said: “We both work from home and have meetings everyday and often in the evenings.
"Noise from events at the care home will cause us a disturbance, making it difficult to concentrate on our meetings.”
A resident on Browns Road said: “I understand that the care home owners wish to provide entertainment for their residents, however the current application is much too broad and unspecific as to what will happen and gives them complete flexibility and permission to run any outdoor event at any time of day at any volume throughout the year.”
In licensing documents, Anavo said events would be invite-only, risk assessments would be carried out for every event, it will “enforce the safe consumption of alcohol” and visitors will be asked to leave quietly.
An Anavo Group spokesperson said: “We encourage our residents to participate in helping us to shape their futures and live their lives their way, whilst enjoying a comfortable and safe environment.
“We value maintaining social relationships and cultural links with the wider community.
"We will support people to continue with lifelong interests and encourage meaningful daily engagement within the home community.
“Our residents and families are able to enjoy all of their routines while living in a care home.
"We will be providing entertainment and entertainers and these activities are always within sociable hours as residents usually retire early evening.
“We offer the opportunity for families to join their loved ones for meals. We also offer private dining for families who wish to celebrate a special occasion together.
"The ability of offer alcohol, with their meals, is a normal part of people’s lives.
"Their ability to live a normal life should continue while living at Surbitonian Gardens.
"The serving of alcohol at Surbitonian Gardens will not be extended to the public, it will only be for residents their families and friends within the home.”
A spokesperson for Kingston Council said: “The number of Kingston residents living with dementia is rising significantly and it’s vital that we think differently about how we support them in years to come.
"We are working with leading care provider Anavo Group to deliver this new specialist home to provide the highest standard of care and support residents living with dementia to remain as independent as possible.
“Anavo runs over ten specialist care homes across the UK, providing expertise in areas such as dementia, nursing, and respite care.
"As well as delivering the highest possible quality care for residents, the new home will also provide value for money as demand for health and social care services increases.”
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