THE LAST four council care homes and two old folk's day centres are to shut to save money.
Thousands signed petitions to keep them open and senior Labour councillors joined the opposition but the Chronicle has obtained a report recommending their closure.
It will go before the Joint Agency Group on Monday and it is understood there will be no opposition from the JAG board, made up of the council and health bosses who control the town’s adult services.
The report states public sector residential care is too expensive, especially as it would cost a reported £2m to bring the buildings up to scratch.
Millions of pounds need to be cut from the older people’s budget and during public consultation people were warned alternatives to losing the homes and centres ‘could be worse.’
Green Park House at Penistone and Royston’s Oaklands will shut and their day centres ‘relocated’, at this stage it is not known where.
Highfield Grange at Wombwell and Greenside House in Mapplewell will be reopened as respite and convalescence centres, both will keep their day centres.
The report claims that when the implications of the proposals were explained people were supportive.
