Thousands sign petition to save care home

More than 5,000 people have signed petitions in an effort to stop the proposed closure or privatisation of a care home in Derbyshire.

The Ada Belfield Centre in Belper is one of three care homes Derbyshire County Council has proposed closing or selling because of "increasing financial pressures".

Separate petitions launched by community interest group Belper Together, care home staff and the Belper Independents party received a total of 5,168 signatures.

The council, which has launched a public consultation, previously said feedback from residents would "be fully taken into account".

On Wednesday, Belper Together said it delivered 300 additional signatures to the council's County Hall headquarters in Matlock, having already submitted one signed by about 400 people.

Jo Ryle, whose mother was a resident at the care home for four years, presented the group's petition to the council alongside fellow campaigner Di Houlden.

She said: "The loss of Ada Belfield would be a tragedy to the community in many ways.

"Not only is it a wonderful establishment, it is also the workplace for many local people.

"Most importantly, it has provided and continues to offer a warm and nurturing home from home for residents who are at risk if left alone or whose family members are unable to care for them adequately even with the support of carers.

"For my mum, the Ada Belfield became family."

The other homes the council is considering closing or selling off are the Staveley Centre and the Thomas Fields in Buxton.

A decision over the future of the care homes will be made at the council's upcoming cabinet meeting on 20 February.

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, campaigners will hold a rally outside the council's headquarters in a last-ditch attempt to convince councillors to vote in their favour.

It follows a protest that took place on 18 January calling for the £11m care home to be saved.

In November, the council confirmed the closure of eight of its other care homes, as well as five dementia day care centres.

The authority said in a statement: "All the comments and feedback, including any petitions accepted by the council, will be taken into account before any decisions are made.

"We recognise the uncertainty may be worrying for our residents and their families and would like to assure them their health and wellbeing remains our top priority."

The council said there had been a decline in demand for traditional residential care, including people who require care and "have more complex needs, [like] dementia".

The statement added the council "needs to adapt our services to help support the growing number of people with dementia".

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