Relatives of residents at a care home are urging the council to reconsider its proposed closure as part of a multi-million-pound plan to transform and expand nursing care accommodation.

Bishop's Waltham House is one of the seven council care homes earmarked for closure under plans to invest £173 million over the next five to six years to ‘transform and expand the future of nursing and specialist care accommodation’.

Anita Barry and Amber Channon presented their opposition to the closure of Bishop's Waltham House to members of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee.

Anita Barry said that her mum, an 86-year-old resident of Bishop's Waltham with dementia, has been living at the residence since 2019, in which she is well cared for and happy.

Mrs Barry said: “If you look at the advice given by Dementia UK, it states the importance of retaining a sense of calm and dignity towards the end of life.

"My mum has a right to an advanced health care plan, which includes respecting her wishes on where she ends her days. She wants to stay at Bishops Waltham House, which is her home.

“Moving residents from another home can only reduce their life expectancy for people like my mum. How would you feel if your relative faced the situation?

Mrs Barry also said that in January 2022, Councillor Liz Fairhurst publicly stated that no care homes would be closed down permanently.

She said the new plan “seems to be a complete reverse of her previous state position” and “should be challenged by this committee”.

“It is completely unjustifiable that the closure of Bishop Waltham House should be closed within six to 12 months of this decision before any plan could be made to avoid losing this valuable community facility,” she added.

“Bishop's Waltham could end up in another dire sight like Nightingale House in Romsey."

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Bill Whitters, said working group members were “struck” by what they witnessed during the care home visits.

Cllr Whitters said: “We were also concerned about the lack of personal dignity provided and the challenges for staff to operate in layouts and buildings that are outdated and increasingly not fitted for purposes. We thoroughly believe we can do better.”

Cross-party group members supported the proposal and advocated for better and more modern buildings fitted for the future.

Chairman Cllr Whitters said that no new admissions will be made in Bishop's Waltham House, Green Meadows in Denmead, Solent Mead (including the day service) in Lymington, Oakridge House in Basingstoke, Ticehurst in Aldershot and Emsworth House on the outskirts of Havant.

The final decision on permanently closing the residential care homes will be made on February 8.