A FORMER Labour city councillor faces being kicked out of his home by the party he supported all his life. Old socialist Patrick Deighan used to fight for social justice in the city but this week the 84-year-old resident of Fair Elms Home for the Elderly will have to look for somewhere else to live. The Labour-dominated county council has decided to close the popular old folks home to release funds.

But hundreds of local campaigners have vowed to fight the closure plans.

"My father was a Labour councillor for castle ward in Lancaster throughout the fifties," said Patrick's son, Mike Deighan.

"It's disgusting that these days Labour councillors are voting to close down old people's homes. They used trendy soundbites like 'best value' but I visit Fair Elms a lot and I can tell you that its unique caring atmosphere is what's best value. My father is settled there, he loves it and the staff have been fantastic, I can't praise them enough."

As a professional musician Mr Deighan has produced a song based on a poem written by one of the Fair Elms staff. Entitled 'Grow Old Gracefully,' he plans to release it to raise funds to fight the closure plans.

Pensioners campaigner Richard Graves says he will be seeking a High Court injunction to stop the closures and Chris Holloway of Lancaster and Morecambe Trades Union Council said: "Up to 400 people gathered in the cold and rain to protest at the County Council's plans and it is hard to believe the sheer arrogance of the Labour Party in this matter. Some of the attitudes adopted by the county councillors defies description and what is harder to believe is that there is a Royal Commission on this matter due to report in less than four months. Our fight for simple human dignity goes on."

The county-wide closure plans have also been opposed by Lancaster's MP Hilton Dawson, ward councillor, Stanley Henig, as well as local community groups and trade unions.

UNISON'S Joe Di Cioccio added: "It's an absolute disgrace. The decision is ill-judged, premature and completely against what the Labour Party is supposed to stand for."

However, Social Service's chief, Miss Doreen Pollitt, argued that the proposals were needed to release resources that are currently tied up in bricks and mortar. She said: "There is an overprovision of residential care in Lancashire this means empty beds which cost money. That could be used to help people who prefer to remain living in their own homes."

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