Lancashire council plans to close care homes and day centres

Published: 06 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Lancashire’s Reform-run council has sparked fierce opposition after announcing plans to close five council-run care homes and five day centres as part of a strategy to save £4 million a year. The move has drawn criticism from residents, relatives, and opposition politicians, who accuse the council of “selling off the family silver” and prioritising cost-cutting over the welfare of vulnerable residents.

Residents of the affected homes expressed outrage and distress at the proposals. Dorothy Devereux, 92, a former nurse who has lived at Woodlands care home in Clayton-le-Moors for 12 years, said she would remain in her home “till I’m either forcibly removed or in a box.” Similarly, Phil Price, whose 93-year-old mother resides in Grove House in Adlington, said the prospect of relocation “would kill her.”

The council claims the closures are part of a broader effort to enhance the “resident experience” while delivering essential savings and encouraging more older people to be cared for in their own homes. Adult social care currently costs Lancashire County Council (LCC) about £545 million annually, and the authority says the closures could save £4.16 million.

However, the plan has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. Graham Dalton, the Reform party’s cabinet member for adult social care, is part owner of 1st for Care GB, a private company providing residential and respite care services. Councillors and residents have voiced concerns that he could benefit financially from the closures, though Dalton insists he has “no pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest” in the decision.

The reforms come after Reform UK took control of LCC in May, winning 53 of 84 seats, and amid the party’s drive to find £103 million in savings. The adult social services budget is expected to deliver approximately £50 million in cuts over the next two fiscal years. Reform has indicated that cost-cutting units, nicknamed the “Doge” team, will review operations, but their arrival has been delayed due to ongoing administrative wrangles.

Opposition voices have been strong. Labour councillor Margaret France described the plan as “selling off the family silver” and “opening the door to private providers.” Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey warned that vulnerable residents would be abandoned under Reform policies, likening the scenario to a dystopian vision of “Trump’s America” transplanted to Britain.

The Care Quality Commission recently rated Lancashire’s adult social services as “requires improvement,” citing long waiting times, staffing shortages, and stark inequalities across the county. This assessment has intensified scrutiny on the council’s proposals and added urgency to the debate around the future of publicly run care facilities.

The consultation on the proposed closures runs until mid-December, with a final decision expected in February. Meanwhile, residents and their families continue to campaign vigorously against the closures, raising public awareness of the potential human cost of the council’s austerity measures.

As debates continue, questions remain over how local authorities can balance budget constraints with the duty of care owed to some of society’s most vulnerable members. The Lancashire case highlights the broader challenges facing councils across the UK as they navigate financial pressures, political priorities, and ethical responsibilities in the realm of adult social care.