A residential home in a town near Wolverhampton has now closed as part of the county council’s controversial Changing Lives policy.

Silverdene Residential Home, Tildesley Close, in Penkridge closed its doors last week but Staffordshire County Council has said there are plans to replace the home with new Extra Care facilities which would involve demolishing and rebuilding it with apartments, communal rooms for people to socialise in and care workers to provide extra support if necessary.

Residents have been rehoused in private sector homes.

County councillor Veronica Downes is keeping parish councillors informed on the plans because the changes have caused upset.

She said: “People in Penkridge were very, very concerned when they announced it was going to close and did a petition like other areas in the county when the Changing Lives policy announced.

“A lot of people were very upset because with elderly people you can’t cope with change as much as when younger.”