Elderly told to find new homes

The building is to be knocked down and the site developed into flats

Nearly 30 elderly residents at a south Devon nursing home have been told they have to find somewhere else to live.

The Kiniver Nursing Home in Teignmouth has told its residents they have five weeks to move out before the building is sold.

The owner blames council under funding for the situation, but Devon County Council has said it would like to provide more money but cannot because of a budget crisis due to government under funding.

After it is sold, the nursing home is to be knocked down and replaced by luxury flats.

Everyone who has relatives here is phoning the same numbers Campbell Brown

Joyce Hutchinson, 75, has been a resident at the home for five years. Her husband, Bob, visits every day.

Mr Hutchinson said: "It is a terrible thing you have to face, uprooted after all that time.

"And even when you get to a new place, you don't know what it is going to be like, or whether you will be happy there or not."

Owner Neville Platt said it is too difficult to run his kind of business with the subsidies he gets from the local social services department.

He said: "Nobody cares for the elderly except my staff and myself.

"All nursing home owners and residential care owners in Devon care for the elderly, but apparently the government and social services don't."

Bob Hutchinson visits his wife, Joyce, every day

The leader of Devon County Council, Councillor Brian Greenslade, said the council is continuing to battle with a budget crisis that has been caused by government under funding.

He said: "More money is needed from government is the argument Devon County Council has been putting very strongly for several years now.

"We have been doing our very best ourselves to spend more on this kind of care provision than the government is actually providing for but we can only do so much."

Gladys Brown, 92, is another resident at the home.

Her son, Campbell, has been trying to find somewhere else for her to live.

Mr Brown said: "Everyone who has relatives here is phoning the same numbers.

"When you get a reply, they say' 'You are the fifth today. If you like, you are ninth on the waiting list'."