A WORRIED daughter today claimed her pensioner father might die because of the impending closure of his county council-run home.

Jackie Gaughan said she did not feel her father Robert Pincham, who needs 24-hours-a-day care, would be able to cope with moving to a new home if Lancashire Social Services close Whiteacres, Burnley.

Mrs Gaugham, of Dalton Street, Burnley, has written to Burnley Council Liberal Democrat Coun Peter McCann who is backing her opposition to the closure.

She said: "My father has become part of the community within Whiteacres and depends on the contact of his friends and the ever-helpful staff.

"I am deeply concerned that the county councillors are failing to appreciate that moving these men, aged mainly between 70 and 90 years of age, will cause them much distress and may in the end kill them."

Mr Pincham, 74, a great-grandfather, has lived in the home for 18 months to two years. His daughter said: "None of the residents in the home want to move. If it does then there will not be a men-only home in Burnley and when some older men lose their wives they do not want to live in a mixed home."

Mrs Gaughan said she was annoyed at Burnley MP Peter Pike's comments that he was sorry the home was closing but there were vacancies at other homes.

"My family and I are going to actively support the residents of Whiteacres fight to keep their home." she added.

Coun McCann said: "It is alarming that while raising the council taxes we see yet more cuts to the services for the elderly and disabled - it is people, along with children in education, that need our help the most. Savings could have been made by reducing the hospitality and conference budget."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said the proposal to close the home was now out for consultation and the results of that would be reported to the social services committee in September.

Anyone who wants to make a comment can write to the director of social services at county hall.

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