RELATIVES of residents at a Basingstoke care home earmarked for closure have formed a campaign group.

Save Deeside has been formed after Hampshire County Council opened a consultation on plans to close the care home in Alliston Way, South Ham.

The group, chaired by Debbie Long, whose 75-year-old father John Bolton is a Deeside resident, will hold a meeting at The Kestrel pub, in Buckingham Parade, Kempshott, at 7pm tomorrow.

As reported in The Gazette, Hampshire County Council is proposing to shut Deeside because it would cost £2.3million to bring the 48-year-old home up to modern standards.

Council chiefs propose shutting three other homes in Romsey, Petersfield and Lyndhurst, respectively, for the same reason.

The closure of Deeside could result in more than 40 job losses and the uprooting of 29 elderly residents who are either physically frail or have dementia.

Campaigners who oppose the closure of Deeside have already met with representatives of the Unison and Unite unions and are now looking for a solicitor to represent them.

Mrs Long has also written to Councillor Anna McNair Scott, Hampshire’s executive member for adult social care, about the possible closure.

In a response, Cllr McNair Scott said: “The home would close at the pace of the residents.

“No date would be set for Deeside to close.”

The county council has organised one-to-one meetings for families connected with Deeside on August 21 and also on September 10 at Newman Court Extra Care assisted living scheme in Basingstoke.

In the county council’s plan, which is currently out for 12 weeks of consultation, some Deeside residents would be moved to Oakridge Care Home, which is being extended.

The county council is also looking to build a second “extra care” housing scheme in the town, to complement Newman Court, in Gershwin Road, Brighton Hill.