Care homes could close as council launches consultation

Lancashire County Council has insisted that the futures of 10 elderly care facilities have not yet been decided - after it was accused of making up its mind to close them before a public consultation has taken place.

- by Paul Faulkner

The authority's cabinet voted at a meeting last week to consider the "reprovision" of the services offered by five of its residential homes and five day centres - with the buildings they operate from deemed to be in "significantly poor condition".

Grove House care home in the Adlington area of Chorley, Kirkham's Milbanke residential home and day centre and Vale View care home in Lancaster are amongst those whose closures could ultimately be on the cards once an eight-week consultation - approved at the cabinet gathering - has been carried out.

Countywide, the homes have a capacity to accommodate around 45 people each, while the day centres provide support to older people during daytime hours, including those in the early stages of dementia.

Residents and users of the under-threat services were advised by the Reform UK-run county council of the process it was planning to set in motion before details were released ahead of the cabinet gathering.

A letter reassured them that "no decisions have been made at this stage" - and that responses to the consultation would be "carefully considered".