FEARS that the community's biggest group of residential homes for the elderly could be under threat of closure have been allayed.

Talks are under way to safeguard the future of homes run by Cheshire Life Services (CLS), which operates 14 homes within the borough -- originally under the local authority's wing -- and is seeking a reduction in the rent it pays to Wigan Council for the homes it operates within the borough.

Golborne councillor David Kelly, a member of Wigan Council and a CLS board member, said: "Consultations are on-going and there are no threatened closures for the foreseeable future."

He said the CLS-run Norley Hall home, at Pemberton, is under consideration for closure for two reasons.

Coun Kelly said: "Firstly, it's small, with only 30 beds and secondly, it would be unable to cope with alterations that would need to be made under new regulations."

Now CLS hopes to thrash out a plan for the future which will keep homes, including seven within Journal-land, open.

Meetings are being held between CLS and Wigan Council to resolve the situation, which the organisation says is part of a national trend. The Nantwich-based operation has been running homes within Wigan borough for 11 years.

It operates Golborne House in Golborne, Hourigan House and Lyndhurst in Leigh, Manor Fold (Atherton), Park House (Tyldesley), Sherwood House (Platt Bridge) and Thorley House (Hindley), alongside seven others in the borough including Norley Hall at Pemberton which could close because of falling numbers.

Some staff are believed to have received letters informing them that their workplace has been reprieved.

Nick Dykes, operations director of CLS, based at Pepper House, Nantwich, said: "The home care sector generally is under threat financially. It's a national problem. We are in discussions with Wigan council over the closure of one home in Norley Hall Lane, which has already been postponed.

"We hope to figure out a plan which allows the homes to continue caring for the elderly in the borough."