ELDERLY residents of a care home in Southend will be evicted a week before Christmas.

People living in Willowdale Lodge in Cromer Road, Southend, were told on Friday they have to leave within 28 days.

This means the 12 vulnerable residents at the home have until December 18 to leave.

Owner Dr Haroom Siddique, a GP,  has at the same time submitted a planning application to Southend Council to convert the 14-bed care home into five flats with a single storey extension to the rear with parking.

The council, which has a duty to rehome all the residents, has been left struggling to find new accommodation for them and families are distraught at the upheaval their elderly residents are suddenly faced with.

Gary Drewery’s 72-year-old sister-in-law Janette Last burst into tears when she was handed the letter on her birthday.

Mr Drewery, 54, of Canewdon Road, Southend, said: “Janette has lived there for five years. She lived with us for a while, but she is riddled with arthritis and she decided, in the end, to move to the home. She was extremely happy there until about 18 months ago.

“Janette was very upset by the news which she was given on her birthday.

“To my mind this is a flagrant case of profiteering without a thought about the vulnerable. Southend Council now has to rehome frail and elderly people at very short notice and staff, some of whom have given 20 years-plus of service, are redundant and we are at their mercy.

“There is one member of staff who is also resident there and has also been given notice to quit, leaving them homeless at Christmas.

“It is completely heartless and appalling.”

 James Moyies, councillor responsible for adult social care said: “We were made aware that the home owner gave notice of closure last week and we have been working with him since to ensure that residents will be found suitable alternative accommodation and families and carers supported appropriately during what will be an unsettling time.

“Every resident has been allocated a social worker who will work with them and their families to support them through the entire process, and staff at the home are aware that council staff will be on the premises frequently in the coming weeks.

“In regards to the planning application, we were not told by the owner that this was going to be submitted, or that it was his reason for closing the home.”

The Echo approached Dr Siddique, but he declined to comment.

 

Councillor condemns the closure

WARD councillor Anne Jones called the sudden decision shocking said it had put the elderly residents lives in danger.

She said: “They are all elderly people there. I believe it is in response to the care home losing money for the new owners. I suppose when a business loses money decisions have to be taken but for the people that live there, it is their home.

“There is evidence that when this sort of thing happens to elderly people it has an impact on their lifespan - it is life-limiting and its dangerous “As an authority we are responsible for what happens next. Social workers have been appointed to the residents.

“I am so saddened by this and don’t know how we are going to be able to find places for these elderly people at such short notice. It’s shocking”

Mrs Jones said the decision comes at a particularly bad time for social services which struggle to find homes for elderly people who must be found accommodation at Christmas to avoid bed blocking at Southend Hospital.

She said: “Our care homes have to supply provision for step down care to avoid bed blocking and its a high priority at this time of year.

“As ward councillor its incredibly upsetting. Because of their condition some residents at the home that had no idea that notice had been served on them. There is also a tenant member of staff. The owners have a lot of let properties so I would hope they act responsibly towards the tenant.

“I can’t say they’ve acted responsibly with residents.”