Emotional Campaign To Save Two Cumbrian Care Homes Reaches Final Decision Stage
The future of two Cumbrian care homes remains uncertain as councillors prepare to decide whether the facilities should close.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s cabinet is scheduled to make the final decision on the future of Applethwaite Green Care Home in Windermere and Grisedale Croft in Alston on October 27. The decision follows an extensive public campaign involving residents, families, care workers and members of the surrounding communities. Both facilities have faced proposals for closure after council officers raised concerns about their condition, operating costs and ability to meet modern care requirements.
The council had previously recommended shutting both homes, describing the buildings as no longer suitable for delivering residential care under current standards. Those recommendations prompted considerable opposition, with residents, relatives and campaigners questioning the impact that closures could have on vulnerable people and the availability of local care services. The authority has since received substantial correspondence, questions and challenges, prompting additional investigations into the options available before councillors reach their final decision.
Councillor Patricia Bell, the cabinet member for adult care, has acknowledged the emotional nature of the discussions and the importance of considering their consequences carefully. She explained that feedback from residents and the wider public had led to further research, additional analysis and a reassessment of assumptions. The council has emphasised that the consultation was not simply a process of collecting responses, but an opportunity to examine the evidence and understand the implications of the possible outcomes.
The decision was originally expected to be made on October 13 but was postponed to allow further work to be completed. During a meeting last month, councillors reviewed the findings of a 14-week public consultation concerning both facilities. Members agreed that additional evidence was needed on the costs of the different options, future demand for residential care and the completion of Equality Impact Assessments. These investigations are intended to help the cabinet assess the practical, financial and social consequences of each available option.
Applethwaite Green Care Home has 27 beds, although it was operating with 16 permanent residents when an earlier report was presented to the council. Officials said the home had been functioning below capacity because of longstanding recruitment difficulties, reliance on agency workers and challenges in meeting modern regulatory standards. The combination of staffing pressures and the condition of the building has raised concerns about whether the facility can continue operating sustainably without significant investment.
The financial implications of keeping Applethwaite Green open have been a central part of the discussion. According to the council’s earlier assessment, operating costs exceeded £2,000 per resident each week, approximately twice the cost of providing a place through an independent provider or a fully occupied council-run care home. The authority has also estimated that refurbishment to modern standards, including en-suite bedrooms, could cost between £2.5 million and £3 million. These figures have contributed to the debate over whether investment in the existing building would represent a sustainable long-term option.
Grisedale Croft in Alston faces similar concerns, although its circumstances differ because alternative residential care provision in the surrounding area is limited. The home has 13 bedrooms and had four permanent residents at the time of the earlier council report. Officials said the building, which is more than 50 years old, had exceeded its original operational lifespan. The authority has therefore been considering how to address the future care needs of residents while taking account of the challenges involved in replacing or significantly improving the existing facility.
The potential costs associated with Grisedale Croft are also substantial. The council estimated that refurbishing or rebuilding the home to modern standards, including en-suite accommodation, could cost between £2.5 million and £3 million. Operating costs were reported to exceed £4,000 per resident each week, around four times the cost of a place at an independent provider or a fully occupied council-run home. The council has warned that actual construction expenses could rise further because of increasing building costs, geopolitical uncertainty and the complexities associated with both sites.
Despite the financial concerns, the council has recognised that closing Grisedale Croft could have particular consequences for Alston and neighbouring communities. Alternative residential care provision in the area is limited, making the availability of suitable local accommodation an important consideration. During the consultation process, the council identified a preferred approach of securing an appropriate building locally to provide alternative accommodation, should one become available. The feasibility of that option remains part of the wider discussion about the future of care services in the area.
The possibility of refurbishing either property also presents challenges for existing residents. In June, the authority clarified that if refurbishment were selected as the preferred option for one or both facilities, the homes would need to close for an estimated period of 12 to 24 months. Residents would consequently need to move to alternative accommodation, either temporarily during building work or permanently if arrangements changed. Such moves could have significant implications for residents and their relatives, particularly where established relationships with staff, familiar surroundings and proximity to family are important considerations.
The public response has remained an important part of the process, with the council receiving extensive feedback, correspondence, questions and suggestions during the consultation period. Councillor Bell has said that this scrutiny has prompted further work and helped ensure that relevant issues are examined before the cabinet reaches a conclusion. The authority maintains that the final decision must be informed by evidence and a full understanding of both the opportunities and the potential consequences for residents, families, employees and local communities.
Members of the public who wish to address the October cabinet meeting must submit a written request to the council’s committee services team by 11.59pm on Wednesday, October 21. The arrangements provide an opportunity for people to make representations before the final decision is taken. Printed copies of anonymised consultation responses and independent reports can also be viewed on request at Kendal Town Hall reception, allowing interested residents to examine information considered during the consultation.
Cabinet reports for the meeting are due to be published on Monday, October 19, providing further information ahead of the decision. The documents are expected to support the cabinet’s consideration of the evidence gathered, including the financial assessments, future demand for residential care and the issues raised by the public. Councillors will then have to determine whether either home should close or whether an alternative approach can provide a viable future for the facilities.
The October 27 meeting will mark a crucial stage in the future of Applethwaite Green and Grisedale Croft after months of consultation and public debate. For residents, families and staff, the decision will determine what happens next for two care homes that have become the focus of a deeply emotional local campaign. The council has stressed that the outcome must account for financial realities while carefully considering the effect on vulnerable residents and the communities that depend on local care provision.
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