CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a Basingstoke care home from being shut down have suffered a fresh blow after county chiefs formally recommended its closure.

In a report by director of adult services Gill Duncan, Deeside care home, in Alliston Way, South Ham is recommended to close in autumn 2014.

The recommendation, which will go before Hampshire County Council’s decision-making Cabinet in December, also says two other care homes in Hampshire – Bulmer House in Petersfield and Nighingale Lodge in Romsey – should close.

A fourth care home under review, Cranleigh Paddock, in Lyndhurst, should remain open, according to the report.

As previously reported, the Conservative-run county council wants to close 33-bed Deeside because it would cost £2.3million to modernise it.

In the report, Ms Duncan said: “It is proposed that the closure (of Deeside) is deferred until the new specialist dementia wing at Oakridge opens by autumn 2014.

“This facility will offer accommodation for up to 10 of the current residents of Deeside, whose care needs can be met there and who wish to move there.”

The proposal to shut Deeside has attracted fierce criticism since it was announced earlier this year.

A petition with more than 7,000 signatures calling for Deeside to stay open has been submitted, and 81 per cent of people who answered a consultation said they were “fiercely against” the move.

Speaking to The Gazette, Debbie Long, chairman of the Save Deeside campaign group, said she is disappointed with the report’s recommendation.

“It is not a good day for the Deeside campaign,” said Mrs Long, whose 75-year-old father is currently living at the home.

“But we still have a few weeks to go and just have to carry on and show them the reasons why Deeside should stay open. We are not going to give up.”

The proposal will be discussed by the county council’s safe and healthy people select committee tomorrow, before going to Cabinet on December 9.