CAMPAIGNERS say it is "scandalous" that Bury Council is pressing ahead with the closure of Claremont old folks' home.

Liberal Democrats accuse town hall bosses of forcing through the closure to bail out the cash-strapped social services department.

They demand that all homes threatened with closure should be reprieved following the council's recent defeat in the High Court. Then, the judge ruled that the decision to close two homes, Warthfield, in Bury, and Whittaker House, in Radcliffe, was unlawful, and must stop, pending further consultations.

Councillor Vic D'Albert, Lib Dem social services spokesman, says the council should also reprieve Claremont. Most residents have already been moved out of the home in Bury New Road, Prestwich, which is due to close next month.

Coun D'Albert says the council has now claimed that consultation carried out two years ago, when the proposals were originally made, was adequate and therefore the court defeat does not apply.

He describes this as "a nonsense", and accuses the council of trying to find excuses to close the home.

"Two years ago, very different proposals were on the table for Claremont -- including very sheltered housing for the elderly, a resources centre or day care facility or a mix, and potential transfer to a housing association," said the member for Holyrood.

"The fact remains that recent consultation on the latest proposals was ruled to be inadequate and I understand the same process was used throughout Bury.

"What is scandalous is that two years ago we seemed to be consulting properly while now it is inadequate. This is little more than an excuse to close Claremont, a financially-driven proposal to bail out Bury social services, and as such is deplorable."

The Lib Dems have called for a suspension of all closures until a full review of options has been considered by council and details of the replacement "care in the community" alternative have been examined.

Social services officers are drawing up a new report in the wake of the court's ruling. They will present this to councillors, to see if they wish to press ahead with the closures.

Replying to the criticism, Bury Council leader, Coun John Byrne accused Coun D'Albert of having "no consistency" and of "political bandwagon jumping".

Commenting on the recent legal action, he stressed: "The judgment was clear in that it did not affect Claremount or Beech Grove. We have always acted in good faith and in the best interests of the people of Bury in trying to provide a wider range of services, particularly for the elderly. If we are going to improve, in the long term, the services we provide for the elderly then we have to make changes."