Care home showdown delayed
Staffordshire County Council has won an eleventh hour bid to delay a High Court showdown over its decision to close its residential care homes. Staffordshire County Council has won an eleventh hour bid to delay a High Court showdown over its decision to close its residential care homes. It now has more time to prepare its response in the case. Lawyers acting on behalf of the elderly residents affected had hoped to obtain a blanket injunction today which would stop the council from starting any of its closure plan until a judicial review is carried out. An interim injunction secured by the protestors expired today and a hearing to decide on the blanket injunction was due to take place this afternoon. But council chiefs stepped in and successfully applied for an extension to the interim order. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
It now has more time to prepare its response in the case.
Lawyers acting on behalf of the elderly residents affected had hoped to obtain a blanket injunction today which would stop the council from starting any of its closure plan until a judicial review is carried out.
An interim injunction secured by the protestors expired today and a hearing to decide on the blanket injunction was due to take place this afternoon.
But council chiefs stepped in and successfully applied for an extension to the interim order.
Council spokesman Richard Caddy said: "We will now work closely with our legal representatives to gather the relevant evidence to ensure our care investment plan proceeds as originally planned."
Mr Caddy said he could not confirm when today's postponed hearing will be rescheduled for.
More than 40 aggrieved pensioners have signed up for Legal Aid to get a High Court judicial review over plans to close 22 care homes and 13 day centres.
