FOUR council old folks' homes could close under the most radical plans to shake up social services yet seen in Bury.

Elderly residents face months of uncertainty due to proposals to dramatically cut long-term accommodation in local authority homes across the borough.

Two of the homes, Warthfield in Bury and Claremont in Prestwich, might close by September, to be followed next year by Whittaker Street in Radcliffe and Beech Grove in Bury.

Bosses are consulting residents and their families, and will make a decision next month, on June 19. They say the plans, forecast by the Bury Times last November in a "worst case" scenario, are not about saving money, but helping more people to live in their own homes for longer. Savings made from closures would be re-invested in better social services.

Councillor Mike Connolly, executive member for social services, said that change was no longer an option but a necessity.

The list of proposals for the ten council-run homes are:

Warthfield and Claremont to close by September.

Bosses want to shut Warthfield, in Radcliffe Road, Bury, because of health and safety reasons. Some rooms were sealed off at the home last year after cracks appeared in the walls, thought to be caused by subsidence. Coun Connolly says it would cost too much, around £300,000, to fully repair the faults.

Claremont, in Bury New Road, Prestwich, does not meet registration and new care standards, such as larger room sizes and en-suite facilities. He said the poor design of the building meant that it could not be redeveloped to meet them. It had been hoped to turn Claremont into a very sheltered housing project instead but Coun Connolly says this has proved to be too expensive.

Beech Grove in Bury and Whittaker House, Radcliffe, to close by the middle of next year. There is no money to bring them up to registration requirements. Services currently at Beech Grove, a short stay home in Chesham Road, will be transferred to another location.

Hazelhurst, in Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, would become a resource centre, and retain a number of long-stay beds. It would be a base for the home care service and for preventative services such as short stay and day care. It would also provide services to people with dementia.

Killelea House, Brandlesholme Road, Bury, to become a resource centre with increased intermediate care services.

Spurr House, Pole Lane, Unsworth. Half would be developed to provide specialist dementia care.

Red Bank, Lowe Street, Radcliffe, to be turned into a resource centre, with beds for respite and short stays. It would be a base for home care and support to sheltered housing schemes.

Elmhurst, in Whalley Road, Whitefield, could also be turned into a resource centre. This would include a specialist rehabilitation service together with short stay/respite care, and still cater for permanent residents.

Redcliffe, in Hilton Lane, Prestwich.The plan is to establish a specialist home for old people with higher dependency needs, and turn the bungalows on site into very sheltered housing.

Bury has been criticised by both the Social Services Inspectorate and the District Auditor for relying too much on residential and nursing homes instead of community care.

Coun Connolly added: "Residential care will always be an option for some people, and there are enough beds in the public and private sectors in Bury to accommodate them.

"But this is about providing the right care in the right place at the right time."

He accepted that people would be worried by the plans, and promised to handle their fears sensitively.

But he added: "Change is no longer an option, it has become a necessity. We have more care beds per head of population than any other local authority in Greater Manchester and we cannot sustain that indefinitely. We want to change now while we are in a position to make our own decisions rather than have change thrust upon us."