Reprieve for Newbury care home under threat of closure

Image caption, Plans to shut Willows Edge were met with strong public opposition
  • Author, Niki Hinman
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporting Service

People power has won a reprieve for a care home that was due to be closed by a council.

More than 1,000 people responded to a consultation issued by West Berkshire Council after it announced cost-cutting measures to balance the books.

Council-run Willows Edge care home in Newbury was on the chopping block.

But now it has been bundled with the authority's two other care homes in the hope of attracting a private company to take them over.

"We are an outlier in having our homes and providing this service," said Jeff Brooks, council leader.

"I believe there are providers out there. The hidden cost of care homes is quite extensive.

"We do not intend to close Willows Edge, but we do want to test the market."

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