WEST Craven residents and councillors last night gathered to compile a list of reasons why Cravenside residential home in Barnoldswick should not be closed, and why Lancashire County Council's closure proposals should be scrapped altogether.

The county council had been invited to send a representative to attend the meeting at West Craven High Technology College. But there was disappointment for the organisers when no-one from the county arrived.

Barnoldswick councillor Margaret Bell, who chaired the meeting, said: "I have had apologies from County Coun Hazel Harding but none from anyone else which is very disappointing.

"We have been trying for six weeks to arrange this but the county council has been unable to find a suitable date. I find that totally unsuitable."

Dean Ashley, chairman of the Save Cravenside Action Group, pointed out that the county council had also failed to attend an earlier rally in Barnoldswick.

He said members of the action group were planning to go to Preston today to protest before the meeting of the council cabinet and that every member would be given a letter highlighting points raised during Coun Harding's visit to Cravenside on April 11.

He also said his members would be meeting other action groups from across Lancashire tomorrow to discuss organising a bigger protest in Preston.

Issued raised by the action group and by people at the meeting included:

There is only one other private care home in Barnoldswick which is currently full with a waiting list and Cravenside is full.

The nearest cluster of privately-run homes is in Colne, which is some distance away. Public transport is sporadic and almost non-existent on Sundays, which would make it difficult for people without cars to visit.

Cravenside was purpose built around 17 years ago and needs only £3,000 to bring it up to government standards.

The proposal is to create thirteen 44-place homes and Cravenside already accommodates 46 residents.

It would be difficult for elderly people to be looked after in their own homes because there is a lack of home care provision.

The site Cravenside is on would lend itself to expansion.

Cravenside provides two thirds of the care places in Barnoldswick.

The government's new rules and regulations mean more private homes are closing so there would be less places for elderly people to be moved to.

Judith Wilson, who worked at the former Stanley Villas residential home in Colne and who moved to Cravenside when Stanley closed, said: "I have seen what happens to residents when they are moved about. They just give up and die because they don't want to be moved at their age."