Fears for care home residents across Erewash as closure risk looms

Four care homes in Erewash could potentially close as Derbyshire County Council points to a reduction in demand - an argument described as "a load of rubbish" by a local campaigner.

At risk is Bennerley Fields (which only opened two years ago) in Cotmanhay; Briar Close in Borrowash; and Lacemaker Court in Long Eaton.

There is currently a consultation which closes at midnight (7 August 2024) that has two options for "modernising" its care homes and day services to support people with dementia better.

Back in June, there were public drop-in sessions at Long Eaton and Ilkeston libraries about the changes, as well as two online public meetings.

Unfortunately for Erewash residents, no matter which option receives the most support during the consultation, two of the three centres listed above are at risk because they are listed in both options 1 and 2.

The consultation says that any offloaded facilities will be put up for sale - and if there are no buyers then the site will close down and residents will have to be moved.

It's being opposed by the campaigner Linda Burns, who told Erewash Sound that the justification being used by the council is "a load of rubbish", and that they have "already made up their minds about what they're going to do".

She's spoken to many relatives of people in the Bennerley Fields Centre, who say they fear for where its current residents will go. Ms Burns stated: "There's nowhere else in the local vicinity, so families are going to have to travel, and some aren't able to."

"We are going to fight it all the way, even if it's a 'done' deal"

- Linda Burns

There have been numerous petitions circulating to stop the potential closure, and Ms Burns intends to keep the fight going. She also praised the quality of the facilities: "The staff are amazing, but they don't know whether they're going to have a job."

Nine Derbyshire MPs have also written a letter to the county council and demanded a meeting with the council leader Councillor Barry Lewis - including Erewash's MP Adam Thompson and Mid Derbyshire's MP Jonathan Davies.

We were all very disappointed that, when we wrote to @CllrBarryLewis to request a meeting to discuss planned closures of care homes and day centres in Derbyshire, one wasn't immediately offered.

Will you meet with us urgently, Barry? https://t.co/rK75HNaG6X

— Adam Thompson MP (@adamthompson111) August 2, 2024

The Conservative-run Derbyshire County Council has defended the plans though, and reiterated that no decision will be taken until the responses to the consultation have been considered by the cabinet.

Councillor Natalie Hoy, who's responsible for social care, said in a statement: "With a growing number of people in Derbyshire living with dementia, we need to focus our resources on having the right options to support them and their carers, which would give us the resources needed to meet demand while ensuring we are sustainable so we can continue to support people who need us most."

"People tell us they want to remain independent, choosing to stay in their own homes for as long as possible as they get older, which has led to a decline in demand for traditional residential care."

The deadline to have your say on the consultation is midnight on the 7th of August. You can respond online by clicking here.