'I want government to intervene to save care homes'

Cat Smith MP says Vale View Day Centre in Lancaster is a valuable facility and wants to do all she can to save it

An MP is calling on the government to intervene over the potential closure of 10 care homes and day centres in Lancashire.

Cat Smith, Lancaster and Wyre MP, has petitioned Parliament over the sites, including Vale View Day Centre in Lancaster.

It is one of five care homes and five day centres under review by Lancashire County Council as it looks to save money. The authority said no decision had yet been made and urged people to take part in a current consultation.

"I'm looking to pull any lever possible to be able to defend the adult day centre in Lancaster," Smith said. A final decision is set to be made in February.

"I know - from my constituents, from clients who use it and their families who use it and from speaking to staff who work there - about how valuable this service is."

She said closing the day centre risked "isolating some of the most vulnerable residents in our community".

The petition to save Vale View currently has more than 1,000 signatures.

The move comes after Chorley MP and Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle joined an event on Saturday opposing the possible closure of another care home, Grove House in Adlington.

Sir Lindsay said shutting it would be a "big blow".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) also understands Sir Lindsay spoke to Health Secretary Wes Streeting about the 47-bed home, as part of a broader discussion.

Sir Lindsay was among the campaigners at a rally to save Grove House on Saturday

Other care homes under review are Favordale home in Byron Road, Colne; Milbanke Care Home in Kirkham; Thornton House in Thornton Cleveleys; and Woodlands in Clayton-le-Moors.

The day centres are Byron View in Colne; the Derby Centre in Ormskirk; Teal Close in Thornton Cleveleys; Milbanke Day Centre in Kirkham; and Vale View in Lancaster.