Pressure was last night growing on Bradford Council to halt its controversial elderly care home replacement programme.

It is feared Neville Grange in Shipley, Holme View in Holme Wood and Harbourne in Wibsey could shut later this year following a review.

Three other homes, Laurence House in Undercliffe, Meadowcroft in Rooley Lane and Thackley Grange in Idle, were shut last September and the majority of residents moved to private care homes.

The Council has set aside £17.5 million to replace the care homes. It was originally planned to provide five 40-bed homes but an increase in costs meant officers are now looking into the possibility of building three larger homes instead.

But Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe and Bradford Older People’s Alliance (Bopa) last night urged the authority to keep the existing homes open until their replacements are ready.

Mr Sutcliffe, whose constituency contains two of the threatened homes, said: “It’s good that the Council has plans to build new care homes. However, my concern is that the replacement homes might not be built for years, yet these homes could close as early as late this year.

“It seems common sense that the homes should remain open until the new replacement homes are built and ready for occupation. It must be a very worrying time for the residents and their families. The uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds is very stressful for these very vulnerable people.

“I think that the Council should make a quick decision to keep the homes open and proceed with their plans for the five new homes across the district. I’m hoping that the consultation results in a common sense decision.”

Jean Walker, Bopa chairman, acknowledged the Council was in a “difficult situation” as many of its care homes were no longer fit for purpose.

But she said: “What people are saying is that care homes should be kept open until such time as the new homes are ready, which seems to make sense.

“A lot of these people have been in their care homes for a long time and it is their home. It must be dreadful, particularly for people with dementia. It is hard enough for them just being in this world, without having the extra stress.”

She added: “We are supposed to be one of the richest countries in the world so why should people, when they are getting old, have a fear about where they are going to finish up?

“It is about letting people grow old with dignity.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “The consultation on the future of Neville Grange, Holme View and Harbourne Resource Centres is ongoing and involves us seeking the views of service users, families and the wider community.

“A report on the outcome of the consultation will be presented to the Council Executive for discussion in July and will include the views expressed by all service users, families and community members.

“This report will include more detail on options for developing new residential care services to meet the needs of older people in future years.”

There are spaces for 35 people at Holme View, 35 at Neville Grange and 27 at Harbourne.