Care homes for elderly in Warwickshire to close

[dutchman]

Care homes for the elderly in Warwickshire are to close after councillors swung the axe – despite public opposition.



The county council’s ruling Conservative cabinet yesterday gave the go-ahead to shutting two of 10 remaining council-run residential homes – Abbotsbury in Rugby (pictured) and Mayfield in Bedworth – within six months.

And they gave the go-ahead to the phased closure of all the other eight, unless they can be sold to private firms or be taken over by community organisations.

Only one community has so far come forward with plans to rescue a local home – The Lawns in Whitnash.

It comes despite overwhelming opposition to closures during a public consultation.

The cabinet pressed ahead with shutting the two homes imminently – despite demands from the council’s cross-party scrutiny committee to invite takeover bids.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe, cabinet member for adult services, said there was already over provision of elderly care in Rugby, while Mayfield suffered from low demand.