A POLITICAL row has broken out following the County Council's decision to press ahead with its residential care home closure plans.

The County's controlling Labour group has voted unanimously to pass the controversial plans despite protests from MPs, unions and district councils.

And with some local authorities in Lancashire looking into the possibility of legal action, leader of the Conservative group Robert Hodge described the move as "an affront to the dignity and rights of the elderly and their families."

He said: "I am totally dismayed and saddened by the decision, especially as my group put forward sensible proposals which would have not only given the Labour administration a chance to repair the damage.

Now, we have a situation which is coming under the heaviest criticism from MPs of all parties down through district councils to virtually every member of the general public.

Despite a lengthy, time consuming and expensive consultation exercise, the Labour Group, led by Cllr Cheetham, at the end of the day have chosen to take little or no notice of the forceful and useful comments which the consultations produced."

Welfare chief Chris Cheetham, responded angrily and said "I am very concerned at the claims and comments made by the small group of district councils threatening litigation against the County Council.

"I would also point out that they are in great danger of incurring significant costs, which will fall upon the taxpayers of their districts.

"I must repeat the assurances we have given that no current resident in our Homes for the Elderly will be expected to leave residential care, all our current residents will be allowed to remain in County Council run homes within their own district if that is their wish, groups of friends and married couples can stay together and, importantly, this process is being phased over a period of five years."