A DECISION to plough on with changes at five Kirklees care homes came under attack today.

Council cabinet members backed a plan which includes closing some old people's homes.

A final decision will be made after a report is prepared on the future of the residents.

Public service union Unison teamed up with Labour today to condemn the proposals.

Opponents said it would cost very little money to keep the homes.

Oakes Villa at Lindley and Knowl Park House at Mirfield are set to be turned into resource centres to provide day care services.

A total of £1.3m will be spent on converting Claremont House at Heckmondwike to provide specialist residential care for people with mental health problems.

The same sum will be spent at Ings Grove House at Mirfield which will specialise in providing short term residential care.

A £1.5m project will mean that Moorlands Grange, Netherton, will focus on residential care for older people recuperating from hospital care - as well as retaining beds for long-stay residential care.

A joint statement from the Labour Group and the local government union Unison said the council was `hell bent' on closing homes.

Opponents to the revamp say it works out at only three pence per person per month to keep the homes open. Paul Holmes, branch secretary of Kirklees Unison, said: "There were 17 old people's homes in Kirklees three years ago.

"They have already shut five."

Clr Sylvia Smithson, Cabinet member for social services, said: "Meeting the individual needs of residents will be handled very caringly and sensitively, and closely discussed with them, their relatives, carers and doctors.

"Under the proposals, when residents have to move they, and the staff who support them, will be moved together wherever that is possible."

She said: said: "The council's strategy aims to provide services to enable people to live in their own homes as long as possible, with appropriate high quality residential care as required."

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