THE CLOSURE of a Horsforth care home has come under fresh scrutiny as councillors mounted a challenge to closures across Leeds.

Horsforth councillor Dawn Collins was one of those speaking out at a Leeds City Council meeting against a decision to close several care homes and day centres.

Manorfield House in Horsforth is one of those affected, and Cllr Collins criticised the communication and consultation that had taken place with residents.

A ‘call-in’ meeting was held at Civic Hall last week to discuss an executive board decision which was made in September and to send the issue back for further consideration.

Cllr Collins was one of the signatories to the 'call in' and spoke at the meeting in support of Manorfield House residents.

She said: "The families of residents at Manorfield House are distressed at the news of the imminent closure of this home. The drive to make savings and pursue broader goals must not distract us from the need to respect the people who live in these homes. I am concerned that the Council has again failed to communicate with the families supporting Manorfield residents. Families have no idea as to how long they have to find a new home for their loved ones or how any friendship groups that have developed over the years will be supported.

"Alternative accommodation nearby is also known to be of poor quality and many available beds are in homes that fail to meet a 'good' standard. There has also been insufficient consideration of what would happen to the site if the home does close. Would extra care housing for Horsforth residents be built there or would Horsforthians still be expected to move to the other side of the city when they get old?"

The Executive Board approved the decommissioning of Manorfield in September 2013 once certain criteria were met.

The home has remained open but with no further admissions and the number of residents has now fallen below the minimum of ten which the council says is needed to prevent deterioration in morale.

The report to last month's meeting said: "The number of residents at Manorfield House has now fallen below this level and as such it is proposed that the remaining residents are supported through the assessment and transfer process to choose alternative services to meet their needs. Residents’ needs will continue to be met, there will be no loss of service."

The report said: "Few people actively choose to go into a long term care home and the likelihood is that their admission is dictated in part by a lack of immediately available alternatives and the stereotypical view of older people (particular those living with some element of confusion) as being unable to live independently safely. However good the care home is, choice and the opportunity to be involved in day to day activities is limited by the environment."

It argued "older people should be afforded a better quality of life than is currently possible in the buildings that are the subject of this report."