CONTROVERSIAL plans to close four of the district's six residential care homes have been proposed by the County Council.

The authority says it needs to radically overhaul its services for older people because it can not afford to bring all the homes up to new Government standards.

But staff, relatives and elderly residents in care have been upset by the news that Slyne House, Moor Platt, Beaumont View and The Craggs will close if the proposals get the go ahead.

Consultations are now taking take place and the plans will be voted on by county councillors in June.

The County estimates that the bill to renovate all of its 48 residential homes would cost more than £14 million so it plans to sell 35 of them to private developers and use the proceeds to bring the remaining homes up to standard.

Locally, Dolphinlee House in Lancaster and Woodhill House in Morecambe would be saved and refurbished to meet the needs of high dependency residents.

County Hall bosses admit that the proposals will not be popular but Social Services chief Chris Cheetham said: "I am fully supportive of the drive for higher standards in residential care home introduced by the Government but recognise that the resources we need to implement these standards in Lancashire will not be available without making radical changes to our current services.

There is no easy solution to this problem.

Doing nothing is not an option."

But residents claims they have paid their tax and national insurance all their lives and want to remain in their homes where they feel settled.

Staff and residents at a number of homes have contacted the Citizen to express their concerns.

One elderly resident said: "I don't want to move.

"I'm happy here.

I'm too old to be on my own.

I'm well looked after here."

One resident at the Beaumont View Home for the Elderly, targeted for closure, is aged 107, one of the country's oldest residents.

A member of staff at Beaumont View said: "The very idea of having to find new accommodation is causing worry and distress among the residents and staff are concerned about their clients future comfort as well as having to consider their jobs.

"This is the generation that saw two world wars and who have paid their working dues towards their future care."