Haldane House closure was 'inevitable'

As expected, the East Sussex cabinet opted for the recommended closure.

Closure of the 28-bed Haldane House in Cooden Drive has been discussed over the past 13 years.

Care homes association chairman Tony Parker says he is "not the least surprised."

He says this is largely due to the fact that East Sussex county council could not afford the estimated millions needed to upgrade the homes to ensure they met new Government standards due to be enforced on April 1.

But Mr Andrews firmly lays the blame for the closures at the door of the previous Liberal Democrat administration.

"These closures are being brought about because new care regulations will no longer allow councils to run homes which do not meet these standards.

"Council homes are now required to meet the same standards that the previous administration had inflicted on the private sector for years, while ignoring the standards in its own homes.

"The Liberal Democrats failure to provide the necessary investment in previous years is shameful and they must carry the blame for these closures."

In last week s Observer county leaders pledged that friends would not be parted as a result of the Haldane House closure.