A new state-of-the-art, £10.5 million care home has opened in place of an old disused petrol station in Southborough.

Fountains Lodge Nursing and Residential Home opened its door in an official ceremony in London Road.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor Lynne Weatherly, the cabinet member for communities and wellbeing joined visitors staff and new residents to mark the big day.

The Bupa home boasts facilities including a cinema, hair salon, therapy room and sensory garden.

Extra home comforts include under-floor heating, wi-fi and 32 inch flat screen televisions in each of the 74 bedrooms

The official opening ceremony comes after 74 weeks of building work on the site of a disused petrol station on London Road.

Bupa has worked closely with Southborough and High Brooms Town Forum throughout the process, and in particular the Town Forum supported the naming of the home - after the landmark Southborough Fountain.

Robert Prance of the Town Forum and his ukulele band were among those at the opening event.

The home has also developed a close relationship with the neighbouring Barnardo’s Meadows School.

Pupils from the school buried a time capsule on site during the ground breaking ceremony, and were later invited to the launch of its information suite where Bupa presented them with a £500 cheque to buy outdoor equipment.

Fountains Lodge Nursing and Residential Home specialises in care for elderly people living with dementia.

In keeping with Bupa’s commitment to providing high-quality personal care, qualified nurses will be available 24 hours a day.

Managing director of Bupa Care Homes, Andrew Cannon, said: “Bupa is committed to providing the best possible care for our residents, and so I am delighted that the opening of Fountains Lodge Nursing and Residential Home means we will now be able to provide 24 hour person-centered care in a home that boasts state-of-the-art facilities in Tunbridge Wells.

“The opening is made even more special by our close relationship with the community and we’re grateful to both Southborough and High Brooms Town Forum and Barnado’s Meadows School for their involvement throughout the process. We hope in coming years the care home continues to play an important role in the community.”

For more info visit: http://www.bupa.co.uk/care-homes