Care home campaigners threaten legal action

Campaigners fighting to stop two council-run dementia care homes being transferred to the private sector have threatened legal action.

On Tuesday, councillors confirmed that Claremont House in Heckmondwike and Castle Grange in Newsome would be switched to private providers after a review.

Talks with interested providers would now resume, Kirklees Council said, but solicitors have contacted the authority on behalf of impacted families sharing concerns over how a consultation process was carried out.

Kirklees Council has been approached by the BBC for a response.

At the meeting on Tuesday, council leader Carole Pattison acknowledged it had been a "very difficult" decision.

However, she said the Labour-run council wished to bring it to an end "for us to be able to transfer to good providers of dementia care in the private sector".

Campaigners have accused the authority of "failing to follow a recognised consultation" and providing "incomplete financial evidence".

They said they were "disappointed" but not "surprised" with the final decision.

"It feels very much like we're not being listened to even though we are presenting really sound arguments and oppositions," Sarah Blagborough said.

The group said they await a response from Kirklees Council back to their legal team.

A proposal to close both homes was put forward by Kirklees Council in 2023 as part of efforts to make almost £47m in budget savings.

Campaigners fought the plan, with a decision made in early 2024 to keep the homes open.

Councillors made the decision to transfer them to private providers in late 2024, but this was called in for review by eight opposition councillors.

The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel recommended the authority put the plans on hold in January, however the cabinet was presented with additional financial analysis on Tuesday and re-affirmed the decision to transfer.

Pattison said the decision had been "very hard" due to "heart-breaking" stories from families, but added: "We have given every opportunity for families and stakeholders to be consulted and have listened to what they said.

"We would love for this to come to a conclusion and for us to be able now to transfer those homes to good providers of dementia care in the private sector."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.