WE advertised a public meeting for last Saturday at the request of RAGE, a national group formed, like ourselves, to support the elderly. The meeting was designed to unite the union Unison with residents, relatives and staff to help stop the closures of homes for the elderly.

However, late on Friday we received an email advising us that, due to a lack of co-operation by Unison, RAGE's Mark Oley would be unable to attend.

RAGE, evidently, have received support from Unison branches nationwide except for the Bury branch who, we are told, have not supported their members or residents in a bid to prevent homes from closing.

We thank the Bury Times Group and all the people those who attended Friday's meeting and hope that we will retain their continued support.

Sadly, while many members of the public wish us well and agree with what we are doing, they feel it does not affect them directly and so do not want to get more involved. But believe me, it does affect everyone if homes close. No-one can halt the ageing process and if Bury MBC have their way there will be no freedom of choice for anyone who needs residential care in the future.

Claremont in Prestwich was closed by way of the same flawed documentation that judged the proposed Whittaker House and Warthfield closures to be illegal. Yet Bury MBC seem to have already removed this home from the equation and are now discussing the future of only two local homes and not the four proposed earlier for closure.

EILEEN SLINGSBY (CARE),

Countess Lane,

Radcliffe.