Reform Councillors Perform U-Turn on Lancashire Care Home Closures
Reform councillors in Lancashire have announced they will not proceed with the closure of several care homes in the county, following months of intense public outcry and protest. Instead, the facilities, which had been slated for shutdown, will now receive investment to secure their future.
Months of Public Pressure Lead to Policy Reversal
The decision marks a significant reversal for the Reform party, which controls Lancashire County Council with 52 of 84 seats following the May 2025 local elections. The announcement came earlier this week, just days after a large protest in Preston attracted hundreds of concerned residents, family members, and campaigners.
The care homes affected by the original closure plans included:
- Favordale in Colne
- Grove House in Adlington
- Milbanke in Kirkham
- Thornton House in Thornton-Cleveleys
- Woodlands in Clayton-le-Moors
In November, families of residents at Woodlands expressed their astonishment at the council's decision to close a facility that provided vital support for their loved ones. One resident's son described the planned closure as "cruel, especially from a party that claims to have respect for people who have contributed to society."
Political Reactions and Accusations
Mark Clifford, leader of the council's Labour group and shadow cabinet member for adult social care, praised campaigners while criticising Reform's handling of the situation. "It's a huge win because the public have voiced their thoughts and it has been a very, very embarrassing U-turn for Reform," Clifford stated. "We welcome this, but we certainly don't welcome the way they've been acting and treating the public and residents of these facilities all throughout this consultation."
Clifford further accused Reform of attempting to rewrite history by claiming they never intended to actually close the homes. This claim was reiterated by Reform councillor Graham Dalton, the cabinet member for adult social care, during an interview on BBC Radio Lancashire.
"There seems to have been a well-spun narrative that these care homes were supposed to be closing," Dalton said on Tuesday. "You can look back through cabinet meetings, you can look back through our social media; there has been no talk of closing homes. There's only ever been talk of a review."
However, this statement contradicts the council's own published plans from autumn, which included a detailed timetable for closures before the consultation process began.
Questions Remain About Funding and Implementation
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, raised serious questions about the practicalities of the new investment announcement. Describing the situation as "chaotic," she questioned where the funding would come from and what form the investment would take.
"Reform need to provide some clarity as soon as possible on their announcement," Smith told Beyond Radio. "This level of confusion and frustration for vulnerable older adults, their families, and staff is unacceptable."
Official Decision Still Pending
Despite the councillors' announcement, Reform officials have clarified that no formal decision has been made. The consultation process to determine the future of the five care homes, along with five day care centres in the area, will not conclude until March.
A council spokesperson confirmed: "The council has not made any decision at this stage. Now that the consultation has closed, officers are analysing all the feedback and preparing a full report for cabinet in spring, where councillors will review the findings before making any formal decisions."
The situation highlights the complex challenges facing adult social care provision across Lancashire and the significant impact of community campaigning on local government decision-making processes.
