Council to close city care home

A residential care home for adults with learning disabilities in Stoke-on-Trent is to close.

The city council said the planned closure of Pittsburgh House in Meir, which is home to nine people, was not a money-saving exercise.

It said the site was old fashioned with no lift and no en-suite accommodation.

A three-month consultation has started with the council stating it wants to offer alternatives which are better than the current provision.

'Maintaining friendships'

It said the home on Lightwood Road was "prohibitively expensive to adapt for frail or disabled people".

Councillor Roger Ibbs, portfolio holder for adult services, said the council would meet with residents, their friends, family and representatives about their future.

He added: "We will be listening carefully to messages about maintaining friendships and fully expect that some people will move to new accommodation together, as has happened before."

The council said not all of the residents would be moving together but would be offered improved care provision at their new residential homes.

Staff affected by the proposals will be offered other jobs within learning disability community support services, which the council said was expanding.