IN just a few days hundreds of you have backed our campaign to oppose plans by Lancashire County Council to close 35 of their 48 care homes for the elderly.

You have made clear that you share our deep anxieties about the ill-conceived and illogical strategy of the county council which has also been condemned by staff, relatives, unions and MPs as well as pensioners themselves.

Today we learn of the county council's attempt to defuse the situation. Leader Hazel Harding says nobody will be forced to live in a private care home because the council needs to raise £14.5million to bring its remaining 13 homes up to government standards which take effect from 2007.

"People in our homes have made the choice to be cared for by the council council. From the initial consultation we realise it is important we continue to give people that choice."

In addition she says a site will be sought for a purpose-built new residential home for at least 44 which meets new care standards.

This will inevitably slow down any closure process and for that reason deserves to be acknowledged as a small step in the right direction.

But the council still intends to close down homes and without a timescale. That means a lot of elderly people - and those who love and care for them - face a huge amount of uncertainty about the future.

The basic fact remains that any decision to close 35 of 48 old people's homes is too much all at once.

The disruption and worry of closing just one would be extremely damaging but on this scale it is inexcusable.

These plans remain draconian and irresponsible.

We urge people to continue protesting until there is a fundamental change of heart.

Yes, the council has jettisoned one of the most stupid parts of its plan but the fact remains that it is still clinging to a strategy that will almost certainly hurt thousands of our senior citizens - people who have given their lives to making this a better country to live in.

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