Restaurants could be restored for care homes' residents

ELDERLY residents living in Willowmere and Oakmere could soon see their onsite restaurants reopened as Cheshire East has agreed to look for a new provider for the service.

- BY BELINDA RYAN Local Democracy Reporter

The council shut the restaurants at Willowmere Extra Care in Middlewich and Oakmere in Handforth at the beginning of this year after its children and families committee voted to close the school meals service, which had also served both facilities.

Now members of the adults and health committee which wasn't consulted initially about the impact on the elderly residents - have voted unanimously to look for a new provider for the meals service.

Willowmere resident John Moulton, who was also speaking on behalf of Oakmere residents, told the committee: "We believe that it is vital that all the residents have access to a hot, nutritional meal every day but linked to this, and incredibly importantly, enjoy the social interaction that the restaurant and eating together as a community brings."