Families will relaunch their campaign to save two dementia care homes after Kirklees Council stepped up moves to sell them to the private sector.

Castle Grange at Newsome and Claremont House in Heckmondwike were saved last year after an emotional campaign by the families of residents.

The cash-strapped council had wanted to close the homes – which provide specialist dementia care – to save around £1.2 million a year but families said the upheaval and stress could hasten their loved ones’ decline and put lives at risk.

The council backed down over the closures but said it would investigate selling the homes, something it had tried and failed to do before.

The council’s Cabinet was told in March 2024 that selling to the private sector was still the preferred option.

Now families have been told that selling the homes appears a viable option this time and senior council managers are expected to meet with families at the end of September.

A spokesman for the families said they understood that since a public consultation last year Kirklees has been “pursuing conversations with private sector providers with a view to selling the homes.

“This is despite them telling us more than once that no interested parties had come forward.

“Kirklees will be requesting approval to formalise these discussions at a Cabinet meeting in October and I understand we will then enter into another 12-week consultation period.

“This takes us right back to square one as the fate and future of all our loved ones is now as uncertain as it was this time last year.”

 

 

The spokesman added: “As you can imagine, we are all extremely worried, yet again. We are also extremely disappointed and frustrated with Kirklees and feel let down.

“We have asked them several times during this year if there had been any interest in buying the homes and they said no.

“They told us that they wanted to collaborate with us and build a relationship with us and all work together to make the homes even better than they are already but this hasn’t happened.

“They also promised that ongoing work and maintenance that had been put on hold at the homes would be completed but it hasn’t been.

“This new situation puts all residents at risk. If the homes are sold, there is no guarantee that a new owner will provide the specialist dementia care needed and currently provided.

“In fact it’s highly unlikely that they will. They may buy the homes and close them or they may buy them and change the status of the homes, for example, to provide care for adults with special needs only.

“This means we and our loved ones face the exact same problems as before, such as, them having to leave their home and move somewhere new and not be given the correct care, which is life threatening to them.

“This action from Kirklees is just another way of them getting the result they wanted a year ago. So, we are campaigning again.

“It’s something we all never wanted to have to do again but we have no choice. We have to ensure our loved ones are cared for properly.”

READ MORE: Sarah Newton’s heartbreaking dementia journey and why families say the homes must be saved

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We began consultation with service users, their families and staff in October 2023 on the future of Claremont House and Castle Grange.

“The outcome of this consultation was presented to Cabinet in March this year where a decision was made for the council to continue to run the homes whilst exploring options for a transfer of ownership to independent sector care providers.

“This would mean that both homes would remain open and offer continuity for residents through another experienced care provider employing the staff and running the homes.

“An update on these talks will be presented to Cabinet next month with a view to proceeding with further formal negotiations with interested providers.

“The council’s financial challenges are increasing, and we have been clear from the outset that we would like to consider options which bring savings to the council with minimal disruption to residents and their families.”

The council has previously said the homes cost £2.4 million a year each to run and need around £550,000 in repairs and maintenance.

 

Campaigner plans triathlon fundraiser to thank staff at her mum’s dementia care home