A WHEELCHAIR-bound couple could be separated after 54 years of marriage under council plans to close down nursing homes.
Ann and Harold Hacking wept after being told the controversial scheme to scrap homes in East Lancashire could force them to live apart.
Their MP today vowed to fight to keep the elderly couple together as Ann, 77, said: "I couldn't face living without my husband."
The couple have lived in the Castleford Home, Clitheroe, for the last 10 years.
Lancashire County Council has faced widespread opposition since it announced plans to close 35 of its 48 care homes -- including 1,600 angry Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers joining our campaign to keep them open.
The man heading the care home shake-up and county hall bosses today said they could give "no guarantees" Ann and Harold, 83, could stay together. Ann said: "This is our home. We don't want to go. They won't even say if we will stay together.
"We have done so much here. We are with our friends. Why do they have to take it away from us?
"The people in suits come in and look around, pointing at things and deciding what is good and what is not. We keep asking where we will be moved to and they can't say. We are people, not numbers to be played with."
Harold added: "We've hardly spent a day apart in all our years of marriage and now they want to do this to us. It's no way to treat the elderly."
Lancashire County Council proposes to close 35 care homes, and refurbish the remaining 13, including Castleford. County bosses say they cannot guarantee people moving out of homes due for an upgrade will be moved back.
If separated, Ann and Harold, who have two sons, five grandchildren and one great grandson, could even live miles apart. Ann and Harold worked for 34 years on a farm on the outskirts of Clitheroe and moved into Castleford when they retired.
The couple celebrated their golden wedding at the home in 1998.
Ann said: "We have lived in Clitheroe for such a long time. One of our granddaughters, Louise, works over the road in Sainsbury's and she pops in lots of times.
"She won't be able to do that if we move, together or not. No one has asked us what we want. The council have said what they want.
"I have been into hospital several times and the staff here have helped me so much.
"When I came in here I was so skinny but they have served wonderful food. We have sing-songs and events, it is like another family. Now they want to take that away. I don't want to be away from my friends or from Harold. We have been together for so long.
"Being told we can stay in a county home means nothing if we can't stay together."
Irene Magee, manager at Castleford, said: "It is very hard to explain to some people what is going on.
"They haven't received any assurances other than that they won't be made to leave county care. They could be put anywhere."
One of the couple's sons, Keith Hacking, of Clitheroe, said: "It is causing a lot of upset. I don't know what would happen if they had to separate. I don't even want to think about it."
When asked whether a guarantee could be given that Mr and Mrs Hacking would not be separated a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The consultation process is still ongoing so nothing is definite.
"People will have to be moved as homes close or when theirs is being refurbished.
"We will endeavour to keep people together but we cannot make any guarantees."
Coun Chris Cheetham, in charge of social services, added: "We are looking at things all the time but it would be foolish to make guarantees now."
Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who has visited Castleford, said: "It breaks my heart to see older people like this couple break down and cry. It shows just how callous the county council are being.
"I will be making sure the county council sees a picture of this couple so upset. Then I want the county council to say they believe they are doing the best thing."
David Atkins, chairman of RAGE National (Residents Action Group for the Elderly) said closures needed to be dealt with in a sympathetic and reassuring way.
He said: "Moving people from home to home can be traumatic at the best of times, but this is much worse."
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