Care home supporters oppose closure plans
Willows Edge Care Home was likely to either close or have another provider, the council said
- Published
A care home for the elderly threatened with closure is a "thriving, compassionate community", its supporters have said.
Willows Edge Care Home in Newbury is set to be closed or passed on to a different provider as part of council cuts.
West Berkshire Council has announced plans to plug its £10m budget shortfall.
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing any move to close or sell it.
The home, one of three run by the council, can accommodate 38 people and was rated Good by the Care Quality Commission.
The petition, launched by Lisa Williams, said any upheaval would have a "profoundly negative impact" on its residents, many of whom have dementia.
She said: “Willows Edge is not just a facility; it is a thriving, compassionate community that houses someone’s mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
"It is more than just a facility; it is a home filled with love, warmth, and an incredible staff unit dedicated to the well-being of the residents," she said.
Katherine Fenwick, whose father is in Willows Edge, said many of the residents had "served the community" in Newbury.
“If the home closes, residents face being moved up to 30 miles out of the area that they call home,” she said.
The council announced a raft of cuts as it deals with a £10m hole in its finances, which it blamed on inflation and a lack of central government funding.
It said the Willows Edge Care Home was likely to either close, or have another provider, in order to save £240,000 and not be faced with costs of upgrading the facility.
Leader Lee Dillon insisted the council was protecting vulnerable people.
“We would look to place these people in other care homes in the district,” he said.
He added that would be "£400 per person per week" less Willows Edge currently costs.
Other areas set for cutbacks include household waste centres and community transport schemes.
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