THE GRANDSON of one of the pensioners to be moved when her residential home closes in a social services shake-up has started a campaign to get plans scrapped.
Around two thirds of the county council-run residential homes in Lancashire could be axed to meet new Government standards -- reducing the number in Lancashire from 48 to just 13 homes.
The plans, announced last week by County Councillor Chris Cheetham, cabinet member for social services, have been met with widespread anger.
Now Andy Lee, whose 79-year-old grandmother Joan Suggate lives in Savick's Ainsdale House, has begun a petition to keep them open.
Andy, of Ainsdale Drive, said: "I'm annoyed. I remember the problems we had getting our relatives settled so they felt at home. Now we're going to go through it all again.
Mrs Suggate is not the only pensioner devastated by the proposals, now open for public response.
Irene Yard, 61, resident at The Birches, Ribbleton Lane, Preston, for three years, said: "This is my home. Where are we going to go? Nobody can tell us."
Fellow resident Margaret Bell agreed: "We're not moving. We want to stay here."
Preston and South Ribble could be hard hit if the plans go ahead.
As well as The Birches and Ainsdale House, there are plans to close Fell View rest home, in Longridge and Falcon House, in Deepdale. In South Ribble, Charnley Fold House, in Bamber Bridge, New Manor, in Longton, and Leyland's Broadfield House face the axe.
Alison Walker, assistant manager of The Birches, said: "You have to make cutbacks to meet targets, but the news was devastating -- around 90 elderly people have to find alternative accommodation."
The plans could affect more than 600 elderly residents and a large number of staff.
Carol Lakey, branch secretary for Unison -- the union for public sector workers -- said: "This could result in job losses for hundreds of our members. We will campaign to resist that."
Have your say by writing to Services for Older People Consultation, Lancashire County Council, Freepost 864, Preston, PR1 8BR, before June 14. A decision will be made by July 1.
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