'repossession'

of homes IWAS horrified to read (LET, February 1) that five out of the six county council homes for the elderly in Burnley are earmarked for closure.

Several of these have been refurbished in recent years to a high standard. Residents are comfortable, well cared for and happy in what is their home. They probably thought they were settled for the rest of their lives, not imagining that their home would be 'repossessed.'

The Government seems obsessed with setting seemingly impossible targets of excellence -- that and privatising everything.

It is true that residents deserve the best, but how many private homes have en-suite bedrooms for everyone? Will they also go out of business trying to meet government targets?

The idea of keeping people at home is good -- if care in the community is available. Unfortunately, this is a time when cuts in this area are already being made.

Daily visits with hot meals on wheels are to be replaced by fortnightly visits, when frozen meals will be left for people to defrost and warm themselves.

Is this a step forward? I think not. A friendly face -- with a hot meal -- is much more therapeutic.

The social worker will plan the care needed at home and, no doubt, if you have savings you will have to pay. In between visits by carers, many people with no families will be on their own all night: prisoners with no visitors at all.

What about families needing their elderly relatives to have respite care? At least in residential homes, people interact with, laugh and talk with -- some stimulation, with staff to care for them 24 hours a day. Otherwise, what is there to live for?

Will there be enough private homes to take all the 'displaced' residents? They will have to be split up from their friends, as they can't be transferred en bloc.

The thought of either myself or my husband ever being on our own at home with only carers calling is quite frightening.

I hope before the final decision is made that the councillors and the people of Burnley object to this proposal in any way that they can.

KATHLEEN BULCOCK (Mrs), Wilkie Avenue, Burnley.