A care home in Wolverhampton facing closure as part of city council cutbacks does not need a claimed £2 million upgrade to stay open, according to campaigners.

The campaign to save Underhill House in Fallings Park gained fresh impetus today after protesters unearthed papers which, they say, prove it does not need the expensive work to stay open. The council is proposing to shut the centre and rehouse its 33 residents, who are aged up to 105, and insists it needs a £2 million investment to be brought up to decent living standard.

But a report shows that the Commission for Social Care Inspection rates it as ‘good’ – and that all the work that inspectors recommended has already taken place.

The report, compiled in October 2007, says the centre has benefited from an “ongoing programme of refurbishment” and that people living there are happy in “clean and comfortable” conditions.

It said the venue should install better windows to insulate the heat and replace some of the bed railings – both of which have now happened.

The report has been leapt upon by the campaign team fighting to keep the centre open.

Councillor Steve Evans, who represents Fallings Park, said today: “This shows the claim that £2 million needs to be spent on the home is just not true.

“It is already at a decent standard – it was awarded a ‘good’ rating, just one bracket away from the top rating.

“The people like living there and the home is comfortable.

“The council says £2 million needs to be spent on an upgrading, but it’s an excuse.

“The inspectors’ report shows that Underhill House is fine as it is.”

The council maintains residents should be moved into better accommodation elsewhere.

Councillor Les Pugh, cabinet member for adults, said: “We want to provide better facilities elsewhere for the residents.”