Care homes hope dashed
A Court of Appeal hearing – offering a last glimmer of hope to those opposing the closure of Staffordshire Care homes – has ruled against the county's campaigners.
Care homes in Staffordshire are to face the axe after judges at the High Court in London dismissed their appeal at a hearing yesterday.
A 100-strong group of members of the Stafford-based Residents Support Group for the Elderly (RAGE), accompanied by Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, went down to London to hand in a petition of more than 8,104 signatures at 10 Downing Street and attend the hearing at the Court of Appeal in London.
The group launched the court action after judges twice refused them right to appeal court decisions to dismiss two applications for a judicial review into Staffordshire County Council's actions.
Judges ruled that the authority had not acted unlawfully.
Speaking after the hearing, Elaine Kirkham of RAGE said: "One important thing that was said in court was that county council budgets are not dependent on the closure of the care homes and day centres."
