A BACKBENCH report into the proposed closure of care homes in Lancashire has been rejected after a council boss said its recommendations would cost too much.

County councillor Chris Cheetham said it would be "wonderful" to develop policy without regard to the financial implications but said it would not be possible.

He was responding formally to a report prepared by councillors in response to proposals to close 35 of the 48 homes, 19 of which are in East Lancashire.

A consultant's report stated that £4.5million was needed to bring the homes up to new government standards due to be implemented in 2007, and a further £10million was needed to refurbish the homes to what was deemed an acceptable standard.

The backbench report was produced by 10 non-cabinet councillors.

It says there is not enough sheltered housing to allow the closure of 35 homes.

It also states the plans would leave people with dementia at risk of not getting the care they need, while respite care -- when old people go into homes for short periods of time to allow carers time off -- may not be as widely available in the future.

A final decision on the future of the care homes will be made on August 1.

But Coun Cheetham said: "It would be wonderful to be able to come up with policy without looking at the financial implications but I can't do that."

Carol Lukey, branch secretary for Unison, which represents care home workers, said: "The report is clear that the plans are fundamentally flawed and do not address the council's responsibility to provide a supported and viable social care policy for the elderly in Lancashire."