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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Protest against care home closure | Protest against care home closure |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Protesters have held a demonstration to save a care home which families say offers a "fabulous" service. | Protesters have held a demonstration to save a care home which families say offers a "fabulous" service. |
| Troed y Ton in Kenfig Hill near Bridgend could shut by September but opponents gathered at a council meeting on Tuesday to voice their concern. | Troed y Ton in Kenfig Hill near Bridgend could shut by September but opponents gathered at a council meeting on Tuesday to voice their concern. |
| An action group has been set up and campaigners have gathered thousands of names for a petition. | An action group has been set up and campaigners have gathered thousands of names for a petition. |
| Bridgend County Borough Council said it was consulting the home's 22 residents before making a final decision. | Bridgend County Borough Council said it was consulting the home's 22 residents before making a final decision. |
| In a statement, the council said it had to "address the future needs of an ageing society" and the extra care housing that would replace Troed y Ton would offer more independence for older people. | In a statement, the council said it had to "address the future needs of an ageing society" and the extra care housing that would replace Troed y Ton would offer more independence for older people. |
| The council also said its consultation with residents and their families included a "full assessment of their needs" and a "risk assessment which takes into account the impact that the potential closure may have on them". We can't give up, it's such a lovely place Howard Grant | The council also said its consultation with residents and their families included a "full assessment of their needs" and a "risk assessment which takes into account the impact that the potential closure may have on them". We can't give up, it's such a lovely place Howard Grant |
| Howard Grant, whose 88-year-old mother Mair has dementia and lives at the home, said the protest at the council's offices in Bridgend was a success, attracting almost 100 people. | Howard Grant, whose 88-year-old mother Mair has dementia and lives at the home, said the protest at the council's offices in Bridgend was a success, attracting almost 100 people. |
| "It got the point across big time and it was well worth it," he said. | "It got the point across big time and it was well worth it," he said. |
| "We will keep it up now. We're going to organise another demonstration and there's going to be a public meeting." | "We will keep it up now. We're going to organise another demonstration and there's going to be a public meeting." |
| Mr Grant said closing the home would be "disgusting" and the community would continue to oppose it. | Mr Grant said closing the home would be "disgusting" and the community would continue to oppose it. |
| "People in Kenfig Hill are totally gobsmacked and upset by it," he said. | "People in Kenfig Hill are totally gobsmacked and upset by it," he said. |
| "The staff there are not staff, they are family. They're fantastic girls. | "The staff there are not staff, they are family. They're fantastic girls. |
| "We're going to put up a real good battle. We can't give up, it's such a lovely place." | "We're going to put up a real good battle. We can't give up, it's such a lovely place." |
| Leader of Bridgend council, Councillor Mel Nott, said: "It is important that those people most affected by the proposals for Troed y Ton are able to express their views, and today was one such opportunity. | Leader of Bridgend council, Councillor Mel Nott, said: "It is important that those people most affected by the proposals for Troed y Ton are able to express their views, and today was one such opportunity. |
| "I fully respect and sympathise with the range of feelings associated with the proposals and I was able to speak to some of the people present today, albeit briefly." | "I fully respect and sympathise with the range of feelings associated with the proposals and I was able to speak to some of the people present today, albeit briefly." |
| He said the council was determined that Troed y Ton's future was handled "with the utmost care and sensitivity" but there was a duty to "consider the long-term needs of an ageing population who want to live independently for longer".Mair Grant, 88, had expected to spend the rest of her life at the care home | |
| Ian Jacka from Kenfig Hill, whose wife works at the home, set up an action group to campaign to keep it open and helped organise the demonstration. | Ian Jacka from Kenfig Hill, whose wife works at the home, set up an action group to campaign to keep it open and helped organise the demonstration. |
| He said Troed y Ton provided a "first-class service" to residents and the community was "incensed" by plans to close it. | He said Troed y Ton provided a "first-class service" to residents and the community was "incensed" by plans to close it. |
| "On the face of it, it's the closure of a care home and you might not think it's a big deal but we don't think the council has looked at the issue closely enough," he said. | "On the face of it, it's the closure of a care home and you might not think it's a big deal but we don't think the council has looked at the issue closely enough," he said. |
| "There's no other local authority home in the Pyle, Kenfig Hill, Cornelly and Cefn Cribwr areas." | "There's no other local authority home in the Pyle, Kenfig Hill, Cornelly and Cefn Cribwr areas." |
| He said nobody was against the plan for the new extra care housing, but it should not be built on the Troed y Ton site. | He said nobody was against the plan for the new extra care housing, but it should not be built on the Troed y Ton site. |
| Extra care housing is similar to sheltered housing but offers residents more support with daily living to allow older people to remain independent. | Extra care housing is similar to sheltered housing but offers residents more support with daily living to allow older people to remain independent. |
| But the new accommodation would not be suitable for Troed y Ton residents, said Mr Jacka. | But the new accommodation would not be suitable for Troed y Ton residents, said Mr Jacka. |
| Remain independent | Remain independent |
| Bridgend council said any decision about whether Troed y Ton residents would move into the new accommodation, the first of its type in the county borough, would be based on "individual assessment". | Bridgend council said any decision about whether Troed y Ton residents would move into the new accommodation, the first of its type in the county borough, would be based on "individual assessment". |
| It said there was an over-provision of residential care and it was trying to develop a wider range of housing options. | It said there was an over-provision of residential care and it was trying to develop a wider range of housing options. |
| If the council agrees to proceed with the closure, Troed y Ton's residents would have to move out by September, while the new housing scheme is expected to be completed by April 2011. | If the council agrees to proceed with the closure, Troed y Ton's residents would have to move out by September, while the new housing scheme is expected to be completed by April 2011. |
| Sarah Stone, deputy commissioner for older people in Wales, said she was "very concerned" about how care home closures were managed. | Sarah Stone, deputy commissioner for older people in Wales, said she was "very concerned" about how care home closures were managed. |
| She said: "We know that for frail older people, a move can be very serious and very negative and people sometimes don't survive it." | She said: "We know that for frail older people, a move can be very serious and very negative and people sometimes don't survive it." |
| Michael Phillips, of Age Concern Cymru, called for a range of options for elderly people based on individual needs. | Michael Phillips, of Age Concern Cymru, called for a range of options for elderly people based on individual needs. |
| He added: "We don't think the system has enough funding." | He added: "We don't think the system has enough funding." |