TWENTY years of under-investment has helped to hammer the nails into Bury Council's old folks' homes.

That's the claim of union leaders, who also accuse town hall bosses of waiting until after the local elections to announce the threat.

Trade union Unison is to hold a branch executive meeting next week to decide what action to take.

The council is considering closing four of its ten elderly people's homes: two of them, Warthfield in Bury and Claremont in Prestwich, later this year, followed by Whittaker Street in Radcliffe and Beech Grove in Bury next year. Some other homes would be turned into resource centres, becoming bases for home care and other specialist care.

Social services bosses say there are too many residential home beds in Bury, and it is vital to have more care in the community with people living longer in their own homes.

Mr Steve Morton, Unison Bury branch secretary, said the union was greatly disappointed with the council's plans.

"It's true that pressure has been brought to bear on the council to reduce its elderly persons homes," he said. "We acknowledge the difficulties faced in trying to meet central Government edicts and recognise that this is a picture being repeated across the country.

"But we also believe that this is the culmination of 20 years or more of under-investment by Bury Council in the physical fabric of its establishments.

"Some years ago the council was given notice of the new standards for homes set by Government and it was recognised that our homes were deficient in terms of modern facilities for the residents. But no action was taken by the council to bring the homes up to those standards."

Mr Morton bemoaned that the plans left little time for consultation, adding: "It comes as no surprise that the closure decision was taken after the elections had been safely negotiated, giving the public no chance to mandate their local representatives on the issue."

Mr Morton said Unison would hold a branch executive meeting to discuss the implications for union members.

"The impact on the residents of the homes is of great concern to our membership and we will be seeking to ensure that our policy reflects their right to receive the care they deserve and wish to have.

"We will also be studying the council's proposals in their entirety to establish whether any monies that are released are utilised to enhance the care that Bury provides to the elderly and not spirited away to other social services responsibilities."

Bury Council's executive is due to consider the proposals on June 19.