AFTER six months of 'public consultation' Lancashire County Council has 'rethought' its scheme to close 35 of its 48 care homes - 19 of them in East Lancashire.

The six months have seen marches, rallies and the largest mailbag this newspaper has received on a single subject for many years - almost all against plans attacked as ill-conceived.

There has also been strong criticism from Labour MPs and district councillors who would normally be sympathetic to proposals from party colleagues - and a barrage of condemnation from opposition figures.

And the reaction of the county's Labour leadership to this avalanche of protest?

Just three homes are to be reprieved - although their futures will be reviewed again in four years time - and a promise to try to find other agencies to provide services for the elderly in another 16, although they will NOT remain open as residential care homes.

The three homes saved are those which attracted the most vocal supporters including Cravenside in Pendle where MP Gordon Prentice has been particularly outspoken.

But the plan's basic flaws remain.

Homes are to be closed at a time when the much vaunted alternative forms of care have yet to be introduced. People are expected put their trust in politicians to provide it in the future. Based on past experience, it is not surprising that people find it hard to believe.

The alternative services should be in place BEFORE homes are shut forever.

The financial imperative on which much of this exercise was based - the need to raise cash by closing some homes to pay for expensive improvements to others in the next few years - is no longer there.

This week the government announced that what were to be statutory regulations will now merely be guidelines.

County councillors have not listened to the public. They have merely tinkered slightly with a flawed plan to try to appease a few traditional supporters.