Pensioners protest over closure

Annie Cardiff is adamant that she will not leave Leven Cottage

Two elderly friends staging a lengthy sit-in protest against the closure of their care home are adamant they will not be moved.

For the past seven weeks, Robert Toole, 75, and Annie Cardiff, 84, have been demonstrating against plans to close Leven Cottage in West Dunbartonshire.

The council said the 11-bed home, the last council-run home in the area, does not meet the necessary requirements.

Ms Cardiff has lived at the home for 24 years and Mr Toole for 10 years.

The other nine residents have since been moved to other homes. Ms Cardiff initially moved out, but decided to return and join her friend in his protest.

They can knock this building down but I'll still be here sitting in it Robert Toole

They have been joined in the sit-in by Scottish Socialist councillor Jim Bollan and two other supporters.

Mr Toole said: "It's ridiculous. I don't know what the council is thinking about. The place shouldn't be shut.

"This is the only care home in the Vale of Leven and there are plenty of old people in the Vale of Leven just waiting to come into a place like this. If they shut this place what happens to them?"

Mr Toole went into the home from hospital, having given up his own house and furniture.

"I gave up everything to come in here," he said. "This is my home and I'm not moving out of it.

'My home'

"They can knock this building down but I'll still be here sitting in it."

Leven Cottage is threatened with closure

Ms Cardiff said she did not like the new home she moved to.

"I wanted to come back here," she said. "I just love it that much. I made it my home."

SSP councillor Jim Bollan has joined the pensioners' protest and is sleeping on the home's conservatory floor.

"This dispute is about giving senior citizens the choice of where they receive their care," he said.

"They have decided, quite rightly, that this is their home and they want to see it stay here."

He pointed out that Leven Cottage was the only council-owned care home for the whole of Leven.

"It is critical that it's kept, not just for Annie and Robert but for future generations," he said. "This home will not close"

Bill Clark, West Dunbartonshire Council's acting social work director, said the home could no longer meet the needs of its residents.

People are living in hope that this home will remain open and I think that is a false hope Bill Clark West Dunbartonshire Council

He said it had cramped conditions, poor toilet facilities and no lift, only a stair lift.

"This home cannot ever be adapted to meet suitable standards," he said.

"We strongly believe that all 11 residents were consulted about where they wanted to be and apart from Robert they have all now left.

"All the others expressed satisfaction, including Annie, with the alternative choices we gave them.

"People are living in hope that this home will remain open and I think that is a false hope.

"The arguments for closure are overwhelming. If Annie and Robert were to become more frail this home wouldn't be suitable for them."

He said the council was in discussions with NHS partners about the possibility of building a new 60-bed unit at the Leven Hospital site.