A GROUP of worried pensioners have taken their fight to save Lancashire's care homes to the High Court.

Lancashire Care Association (LCA), which represents private care homes, were joined by seven homeowners and 11 residents in issuing proceedings at the London court on Monday.

They have asked for a judicial review of plans to close 35 of the county's 48 residential care homes, including seven in Preston and South Ribble.

LCA is asking for the review under the Human Rights Act on the grounds the proposed closures will put the welfare of elderly people at risk. Frank Hessey, chairman of LCA, said: "As providers for older people, it is our belief that care at home is insufficient for the vast majority of very frail, elderly people. The LCA is very concerned that the policy of reducing placements will put older people at risk."

The county council now has 21 days to issue its grounds to resist the application.

A final decision is set to be made on the closure proposals in June. In the meantime Citizen readers can question the man behind the proposals, social services chief Councillor Chris Cheetham.

This week FH Clarke, of Church Street, Preston, asked: "Whatever happened to Nye Bevan saying 'from the cradle to the grave'?"

In reply Coun Cheetham said: "Nye Bevan was the man who turned the idea of the welfare state into reality, he's one of my political heroes.

"I think people often forget the opposition he faced to the creation of the NHS and the struggles and compromises that he had to make to turn the dream into reality.

"What we are doing is not abandoning older people but simply trying to change the way we care for them. In future people will be able to receive the care they need but they will not have to sacrifice their independence to do it.

"I believe the founders of the NHS like Nye Bevan would agree with us that we need to change and improve -- not stand still. Nye Bevan was not wedded to the old ways of doing things, he was about providing the best services he could to the country. I want the best services for people in Lancashire and I am trying to achieve that. But I will not abandon the people currently in our care who do deserve all our consideration."

Send your question to The Citizen, Ben Hewes,

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