Protest against homes bid set

A Lichfield woman has organised a protest march through the city centre in an effort to safeguard the future of the county's care homes and day centres.

Despite having no relatives directly affected by Staffordshire County Council's Changing Lives programme - which 'could' see care homes and day centres close - Judith Henshaw is extremely concerned about its proposals.

And so she is urging all those affected by the proposals, and those who care about the welfare of vulnerable people, to join her in next Saturday's protest march.

Last week a High Court judge cleared Staffordshire County Council of acting 'unlawfully' over plans to close 22 homes and 10 day centres, saying he was satisfied that no final decisions have been made to close the homes in question.

And a group representing elderly and disabled people was refused a judicial review.

This means the council can consult on its Changing Lives programme, which it says 'could' involve care homes closing by March 2008, and day centres by March 2009. It begins at the top of the Three Spires shopping centre, Backcester Lane, at 11.30am, then walking along Bore Street and The Friary.