Home closure protest dropped

Relatives of residents living in Stoneleigh Nursing Home, Barnard Castle, were scheduled to clash with Durham County Council today over the proposed closure of the home.

But the council announced yesterday that the campaigners had withdrawn their legal challenge and that the 41-place home would close, with an extra-care unit being built in its place.

It said it had considered a report which addressed the human rights issues of the six people who lived in the home, but that the authority had still decided to stand by its closure decision.

Council leader Councillor Ken Manton said he was delighted that the way was now clear to proceed with plans for Stoneleigh.

He said: "We hope now that we can press ahead with the closure and replace it with one of our new-style developments that will offer current and future generations of older people a much better and more flexible type of care that meets modern expectations.''

Relatives of residents at Stoneleigh had argued that the council failed in its duty to examine the human rights of the residents.

They said that the council had not taken into consideration Article 8 of Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act - the right to respect for family life and home.

Last night, Sandra Worley, whose 89-year-old mother-in-law Lavinia still lives at the home, said yesterday's announcement had left campaigners with a bitter taste.

She said: "The fact that the council has looked at its decision again means to me that they have admitted that they have not considered the human rights of the residents properly.

"Because they have admitted this we were advised by our solicitor to drop the case. We will be looking at claiming back our legal fees. In one way we have won but it still means the home has to close."

The council said that it had not admitted overlooking the human rights of residents, but had double-checked that it had done everything correctly when considering the future of the home