Balclutha Court Care Home seeks safety upgrade for terrace

Balclutha Court Care Home in Forsyth Street has applied for permission to install a glass balustrade around its first-floor terrace.

Its existing terrace has brick piers with wrought iron railings between them, which residents reportedly tried to climb, leading to a risk of falls.

The proposed upgrade involves removing the current railings and replacing them with a laminated toughened safety glass system.

This new glazed screen is intended to improve safety and comfort (Image: Newsquest)

A design statement, drawn up by Nicoll Russell Studios on the care home's behalf and submitted alongside the formal planning application, states: "The existing terrace is enclosed by an approximately 1100mm high upstand incorporating wrought iron railings between brick and rendered piers.

"While the existing guarding complies with its original design intent, the care home operator has identified it as presenting a potential health and safety risk.

"On occasions, residents living with cognitive impairment have attempted to climb the ornamental railings, creating an unacceptable risk of falls."

The planning application was submitted on July 17 and is currently under consideration by Inverclyde Council, with an expiry date of August 21.

To view the application in full, go to planning.inverclyde.gov.uk and search for the reference code 26/0131/IC.