CALDERSTONES health trust is selling off property and land at its Whalley site, but insists it’s not part of a programme to move patients elsewhere.

The trust has instructed estate agents Athertons to advertise 33 terraced homes and 21 domestic garages, plus four plots of land.

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The sale follows news in June that a national scheme designed to move patients with learning difficulties out of “large institutions” could mean up to 400 jobs losses at Calderstones.

But a spokesman for the trust said: “This sale is not connected with that.

“We are finding the savings we have to make.

“As people know, we bear the same name as the organisation that has been here for the last century.

“The vast majority are 20th century buildings and some were used for staff."

He said the vast majority of patients stayed in 21st century buildings.”

Around 20 of the houses for sale are occupied, mainly on shorthold tenancies, while 15 of the garages are currently let.

Calderstones caters for adults with learning disabilities or other developmental disorders who have complex needs that cannot be met by local services.

The majority have had contact with the legal system.

Workers’ union Unison has claimed that 400 jobs could go with the plans to move patients away and members demonstrated at the site.