THE BISHOP of Blackburn today urged county council bosses to end the old folk's care homes nightmare and said: "A solution has to be found quickly."

The Rt Rev Alan Chesters spoke out after visiting Acorn Lodge care home, off Nuttall Street, Accrington, when he spoke to pensioners about their worries and fears for the future.

Other care homes threatenend with closure also include: Fir Grove, Burnley, Hameldon House, Burnley, Lanehead House, Burnley, Ebor House, Burnley, Lower Ridge, Burnley, Cravenside, Barnoldswick, Pendle Brook House, Barrowford, Wheatley Court, Fence, Brookville, Whitworth, Whinberry, Cloughfold, Ravengarth, Helmshore, Walverdene, Nelson.

Residents have been left unsure of where they will go since February when Lancashire County Council announced plans to close 35 of its 48 care homes, including 19 in East Lancashire, in a bid to avoid spending £14.5million on repairs and improvements.

Since then, the council has announced it will pay out more than £1million for emergency repairs just to keep the homes open.

If the plans go ahead, money would be ploughed into domiciliary services aimed at keeping people in their own homes.

Acorn Lodge is one of four homes in Hyndburn facing the axe once consultation on the plan ends in July and residents fear being split up or left with nowhere to go.

By then the consultation will have lasted four months. MPs, private care home owners and residents have already urged the council ro reconsider the plan.

Prime Minister Tony Blair is monitoring the progress of the consultation after concern was raised in Parliament and almost 2,000 people have sent in coupons supporting a Lancashire Evening Telegraph campaign opposing the closure plan.

Bishop Chesters's diocese covers the whole of East Lancashire. He made his visit to Acorn Lodge as part of a tour of the parish of Christ Church, said: "I have spoken to several of the residents and they are most upset and distressed about what the future holds.

"The county council has a difficult balancing act and I am sure they are aware of the upset and distress caused by the plans.

"I would hope they can bring the uncertainty to an end as quickly as possible for the sake of the people in these homes. All I could do was comfort them but it was hard to help because no-one knows what is happening.

"There are many anxious people unsure of what the future holds.

"But I accept caring for old people is a difficult issue. A solution needs to be found fast."

County council leader Hazel Harding last week defended the length of the consultation, saying: "I want to make sure people have a chance to have their say. It is important we get this right now. If we don't, we will only be in this position five years from now."

Today Coun Harding, who represents Rossendale, said she had also been to Acorn Lodge as part fo the consultation and added: "I understand what the bishop is saying about people being upset and the concern of residents but this is a consultation process.

"To get the solution that people can live with is going to take time. It is important to do this properly."

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