Residents celebrate as care home to stay open

Elderly residents gave three cheers to campaigners who helped save a closure-threatened care home after an announcement that its future was secured.

They gathered in the main dining room of New Bradley Hall, in Kingswinford, to pay tribute to those who had fought their corner.

The home has been given a reprieve by leading Dudley councillors who yesterday announced the building will now not face the axe. Around 30 residents aged from 68 to 104 live at the home in Compton Drive.

They had coined their own version of rousing song 'We shall not be moved' adding the line 'just like a bunch of friends at New Bradley Hall' during the eight-month campaign.

Joining them was 79-year-old resident Harry Griffiths, a retired lorry driver originally from Lye, who helped form the group following Dudley Council's announcement last September.

More than 5,000 people signed a petition against the closure and dozens rallied to attend public meetings on the issue.

"We are so pleased, all that we wanted was for them to listen to us," Mr Griffiths said. "People have done so much to help us."

Pete Shingleton, 86, who lived on Dudley's Priory estate, added: "I couldn't believe it when I heard, I was so happy. I'm so thankful for what people done to help."

Among those joining the celebrations were one of New Bradley's oldest residents, 102-year-old Honor Richards and former home matron and now resident Nancy Homer, a grandmother-of-ten.

Campaigner Mac Scott MBE joined his wife Poppy to mark the occasion with her mother Irene Claridge, 94, who has lived at the home since 2008.

Mrs Scott said: "It has been a long, hard slog but it has been worth it to see how happy they all are."

Fellow campaigner Phil Vanes added: "I'm still bitter about what they have put the elderly residents through here but we are pleased that it has now got to this stage.

"We will not celebrate too much until we see what exactly is going to happen to the home in black and white."

Dudley Council leader, Councillor Les Jones, has said closing the home was no longer an option being considered as part of a consultation.

Leaders of other political parties including Labour and UKIP have also stated their wish for the home to stay open. A formal decision will be taken in June.