Anger at closure plans for Durham care homes

Feb 27 2010 by Neil McKay, The Journal

DOZENS of worried relatives and workers from care homes threatened with closure braved torrential rain to stage a protest yesterday.

They gathered outside County Hall, Durham, to vent their feelings against plans by the County Council to close seven residential homes for the elderly.

The seven under threat are: Shafto House, Newton Aycliffe; Hackworth House, in Shildon, Manor House, in Annfield Plain, Glendale House, in Blackhall, Lynwood House, in Lanchester, Stanfield House, in Stanley, and East Green, in West Auckland.

Terry Scarr, Regional organiser for the GMB union, said: “There are something like 280 jobs at stake if this closure programme goes ahead and the council leadership seems to have made its mind up already.

“Residents as old as 105 are threatened by the closures. They don’t want to leave their homes, their families don’t want them to leave the homes and the excellent care they receive from our members. If the county council is really consulting and not simply paying lip service it will take those views on board and abandon these proposals.”

The county council is currently holding three months of consultations on closing the seven homes, saying it would cost £23m to bring them up to national minimum standards.