A specialist dementia unit extension at Coombe End Court in London Road, Marlborough, could be part of Wiltshire’s way of dealing with its rapidly-rising elderly population.

Three sites in the town are also under consideration for a new extra care scheme providing independent living for 45 people.

On Tuesday a number of elderly people attended the meeting of Marlborough Area Board at the town hall at which the plans to cope with the number of over-65s in the town were discussed.

John Thomson, deputy leader of Wiltshire Council, told the meeting that as well as the local population living longer, an estimated 1,300 people over 65 were moving into the county every year because it of its central location or because they have younger relatives living here.

Coun Thomson said the number of people aged 65-74 was expected to increase by 45 per cent, and the number over 85 by more than per 75 cent. There was also expected to be a 66 per cent increase in elderly people needing special care because of dementia.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in Wiltshire is our ageing population,” said Coun Thomson.

Wiltshire was spending £150m in the current year on social care compared with £660,000 a year in the 1960s.

Karen Jones, senior project manager for the council’s older people’s accommodation development strategy, said most people wanted to remain in their own homes and to be independent for as long as possible.

Extra care provision for 45 people, allowing them to live independently but with on-site care back-up 24 hours a day, would be provided on one of three sites in Marlborough under consideration, she said. The locations have not been revealed but the proposed 16-bed unit for dementia sufferers would be an extension to Coombe End Court, she said.

Miss Jones said Wiltshire Council believed that by investing in the future now it could save as much as £600 million over the next 25 years.

And area board chairman Chris Humphries said: “We need to act now if we are to be ready and able to handle these vastly increased numbers.”

Mayor Alexander Kirk Wilson was at the meeting and he told the Gazette he could not think of anywhere to build the 45 extra care homes, but added: “The general drift of what they are trying to do is admirable. If they have the money to do this I would welcome their proposals.”