RE the decision by Durham County Council’s cabinet to close seven of the authority’s care homes (Echo, July 22).

Surely the main priority should not be to “close them down”, but to “find ways and means of enabling the people to stay where they are”.

The suggestions below are submitted in the hope they may generate second thoughts about the closure in order to let the occupants stay where they are.

Councils around England are switching off street lighting, usually at midnight, to save money. Is Durham County Council? I see no evidence of this.

The present Durham park-and-ride provides motorists with “no cost parking” and a return fare of £1.70 from the car park to the city centre. An increase of only 30p a day – for the duration of the diminishing need for funds – could produce about £75,000.

Would it be feasible and/or acceptable to merge care homes so that people are moved with friends and staff they know? If acceptable, this would seem to be a good money-saver.

Does anyone know of any charities that help good causes for limited periods? This would appear to be a very good cause indeed.

It appears it may be possible to raise money and, hopefully, persuade councillors to reconsider their decision.

Name Supplied, Durham.

IF any of the 105 elderly residents pass away shortly after being turfed out of the seven care homes to be closed by Durham County Council due to cost-cutting, I trust solicitors will act accordingly and sue the authority for a lot more than what it was trying to save.

Would the ten members of the council’s cabinet who voted for closure be happy if their parents were shuffled about like a pack of playing cards? I think not.

Brian Corrigan, Tow Law, Co Durham.