Labour Council Leaders blasted over Care Home closure

12.00.00am GMT Thu 6th Dec 2007

Liberal Democrats are campaigning against the Labour council's plans to close a popular local care home

A Labour council boss was given a rough ride tonight as he tried to justify closing a popular Derby care home.

Labour Cabinet Member for Social Care, Cllr Fareed Hussain, faced huge criticism from Liberal Democrat councillors as he sought to defend the Labour-led Council's plans to close Bramblebrook House Residential Care Home on the edge of Mickleover.

Cllr Hussain was forced to attend the Council's Overview and Scrutiny meeting which was hearing reasons why they should ask the Cabinet to rethink its decision to close the home.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Les Allen was one of the three local councillors who had "called in" the decision. He said "This meeting has shown just how wrong Labour are to want to close Bramblebrook House.

"It is clear that there is no justification for closing Bramblebrook. The residents want to keep it, local people want to keep it, the building is in good condition and there is a need for residential care beds in Derby.

"This evening the Liberal Democrats showed that Labour's case for closing Bramblebrook doesn't stack up.

"Sadly Labour members of the commission followed their party's line rather than considering the real issues."