THE battle to save a Thornaby nursing home and block the sale of its town hall will continue after an appeal was lodged against Stockton Borough Council's controversial decisions.

Earlier this month, the council's cabinet outraged Thornaby councillors and residents when it agreed to close the Parkview Nursing Home and put the town hall up for sale.

The plan is to transform the grade II-listed town hall into a small business centre with areas allocated to heritage-related exhibitions and a proviso that it retains the council chamber and the historical aspects of the building.

And if the council is able to push ahead with its plans to close the home, it will be demolished and could be replaced with supported accommodation for the elderly.

The news that Thornaby's last council-run home was to close angered staff who feared for the welfare of the residents.

Independent borough councillor Steve Walmsley, a member of the Thornaby Independent Association (TIA), said: "This sort of thing has been going on for too long and the people in Thornaby are sick of it."

The required six signatures needed for the call-in were obtained from members of TIA, Ingleby Barwick Independent Society and Billingham Independent Association.

Thornaby Town councillor Michael Moore was delighted with the decision.

He said: "I think this proves that it is time that we broke away from the borough council."

A council spokeswoman said: "The Parkview and Thornaby town hall decisions agreed at Stockton Borough Council's cabinet have been called in and will be referred to the executive scrutiny committee.

"The committee will look at each of the call-ins along with the original cabinet reports and any other related information and will either confirm the cabinet decisions or refer the matters back to cabinet for reconsideration."