Home fear (From Barry And District News)

Home fear

IT WAS obviously distressing for your correspondent (letters Barry & District, November 7) to deal with the problem caused by the closure of the Waters Edge Residential Home.

However the real situation must be faced. The government has consistently undermined the residential care home sector for a number of years.

A combination of limited funds and increasing red tape has made these homes increasingly exposed to closure.

It is interesting that L Kirby does not state how effective Jane Hutt was in this matter.

The fact remains as minister she is responsible for failing to protect the interests of the very vulnerable residents in these homes.

One example of unnecessary interference is the demand that fewer residents are allowed in the homes without enormously expensive adaptations.

The residents, or their families, would ultimately have to pay for this work. I am not referring to fire or health and safety matters.

In England the Minister bowed to logic and abandoned the insistence for these costly changes.

It took the Jane Hutt months to accept the inevitable and back down over these changes.

How many homes decided to close due to this delay?

To add to the uncertainty a senior official in her department says that the regulations are still under review. This adds yet more fear to residents.

The Waters Edges Homes is possibly going to be redeveloped for flats. This could be the possible fate of many similar homes.

The banks are advising many residential home owners to take this course of action in response directly to the government's policies.

If this trend continues where will these vulnerable people go? So far the government has failed to provide an answer.

I hope that all the residents affected settle in to their new homes.

Next time a home closes it will be that much more difficult to find alternative accommodation.

Again I ask what is the minister doing about this situation?

Chris Franks Plaid Cymru leader on the Vale of Glamorgan Council