Offer to save care home rejected

Louisa Watts said she would be sad to leave the home

A businessman's offer of more than £80,000 to keep a Wolverhampton care home open for its 106-year-old resident has been turned down by councillors.

The family of 106-year-old Louisa Watts lost a legal battle in October to keep her at Underhill House, which the city council wants to close to save money.

Trevor Beattie then offered to pay £81,900 towards its running costs.

The council said the home was not fit for purpose and his offer was rejected at a full council meeting on Wednesday.

Sarah Norman, the council's director of adults and community services, said: "A motion was put to the council by Councillor Steve Evans that we should accept Mr Beattie's offer and not close the home.

'Not properly considered'

"However the building is not fit for purpose and would cost up to £2m to make it fit for purpose.

"Mr Beattie has only offered to pay what he calculates to be the running costs for one year and members voted against that."

Mr Evans said the council had not properly considered Mr Beattie's "generous offer" and he would seek to challenge the decision through the courts.

Louisa Watts's family campaigned to keep Underhill House open and took out an injunction against Wolverhampton City Council to prevent its closure.

She moved into the home four years ago and previously said she was happy there and would be very upset to leave.

The injunction was overturned by the Court of Appeal on 7 October.