Elderly residents due to be moved out of three out-of-date care homes will not be left in limbo, says Bradford Council.

Laurence House, Meadowcroft and Thackley Grange will close this summer. Although the precise dates have yet to be decided, the local authority is adamant that it will not be until all residents have appropriate alternative accommodation.

A total of 32 people live at the three homes and 64 people are regular users of short-stay, mainly respite, services there. Forty-one people attend day care at Laurence House, in Undercliffe, and Meadowcroft, in Rooley Lane.

A report to a meeting of the Council’s social care overview and scrutiny committee recommends a timescale for the closures for the first time.

Moira Wilson, the Council’s strategic director for adult services, said: “Our priority is to make sure that older and vulnerable people get better-quality accommodation more appropriate to their needs.

“If the decision were taken to close the homes then there is sufficient high-quality provision in the private sector to meet the needs of current long-term residents. The Council could accommodate short-stay provision in its other facilities without any detriment to the quality of care or accommodation.

“Everyone currently attending day care at one of the three homes would also be offered day care at alternative day centres.”

Councillor Amir Hussain, the Council’s executive member for adult services, said: “We should be clear, if the recommendations are accepted, no home will close until all residents have appropriate alternative accommodation.

“The proposals are not a cost-cutting reaction to spending cuts. They are part of a long-term plan that invests more in these services.”

The Council’s 11 care homes have a total of 354 beds and represent ten per cent of residential care home places in Bradford, and half of specialist mental health residential care home beds.

  • Read the full story in Friday's T&A