PEOPLE power has led Bradford Council to abandon plans for the closure of four care homes.
Woodward Court in Allerton and Broadstones at Holmewood were to be shut, but now the council wants to redevelop them as units for the elderly mentally infirm people, for respite care and day care services.
The authority says that the new plans w
ill leave it more than £1.2m short of the money it had wanted to spend on community-based provision for elderly people. It hopes to find some of the money when the budget is set.
Greenacres at Clayton will also remain open until the long-stay residents can be given the opportunity of moving together in another council home for the elderly who are mentally infirm.
The council is looking for a partner to develop a new extra care housing scheme on the Greenacres site.
Under the new plans, a question mark still hangs over the future of Meadowcroft, at Bowling. It will stay open for now but will be reviewed again in 18 months.
The council's change of heart has come after extensive consultations with the public.
Tory councillor Kris Hopkins, the council executive member for community, said: "I hope this will give people in the district confidence that the council does listen to what people really want."
The council's proposals do involve some closures for day resource centres. Moor Court in Ilkley will be closed, and users transferred to a new scheme operated by the Abbeyfield Society in Ilkley.
Some users of the Oaks in Keighley will be transferred to Staveley Court, the new extra care housing scheme to be operated in partnership with Housing 21.
Littlelands Court at Cottingley will also close, all day attenders transferring to alternative care.
The new recommendations will be discussed by the council's executive committee on Tuesday.
