Five care homes 'could be closed'

Nottinghamshire County Council has announced plans to shut five care homes after a review of provision of care for the elderly.

They are: St Michael's View, Retford; Ashcroft, Sutton in Ashfield; Daleside, Mansfield; Kirklands in Kirkby in Ashfield; and Beauvale Court, Eastwood.

The proposals will now go to the county council on Thursday 10 April.

The authority said nothing would actually close until alternative places were available for residents.

It said the closures would allow it to build brand new facilities to meet the future needs of a growing elderly population.

Previously it has said the scheme would give older people more independence and choice to stay in their own homes.

'Terrible disgrace'

Three homes which had been under threat will stay open: James Hince Court in Worksop, Bishops Court in Boughton and Leivers Court in Arnold.

Kath Lamb, whose mother is a resident at one of the homes facing closure, said: "I think it could kill some of (the residents). It's terrible. To be honest with you, I only hope in years to come the people that are doing this now, the councillors and everyone, it comes back to haunt them. Because I think it is a terrible, terrible disgrace."

In place of three homes facing closure in Sutton in Ashfield, Mansfield and Kirkby in Ashfield, the council is planning a purpose-built, �9m residential care unit with 60 bedrooms, but said residents would not necessarily have to move there if they did not want to.

David Hamilton of Nottinghamshire County Council said: "There will be plenty of choice in this area.

"We know that we've got over 45 independent sector residential care homes around here offering over fifteen hundred beds.

"Now some people may choose to go there, others may not but there will be a choice for people at that point in time."

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