TWO care homes in Cheshire East will continue to offer residential respite for another year after the borough council backtracked on plans to transfer services to the private sector.

Following a six-week consultation process, the cabinet of Cheshire East Council met to discuss care provisions in the borough, including a proposal to source residential respite services to the independent sector.

This would end the need to maintain two council-run respite homes, Lincoln House in Crewe and Hollins View in Macclesfield.

Hollins View, in particular, is used by Knutsfordians.

However, the council has now made a U-turn as both care homes will continue to offer respite care until December 2015.

Council leader, Clr Michael Jones, said: “I temporarily suspended the council’s cabinet discussion in order to seek further comments and views from colleagues, cabinet members and officers.

“Further to this, cabinet have concluded that they wish to find the funds to ensure that both Lincoln House and Hollins View can continue to provide residential carer respite.”

Clr Dorothy Flude for Crewe South, has opposed the plans from the beginning and started a petition that has clocked up 1,398 signatures.

Clr Flude said: “There were a number of elderly and disabled people who attended the meeting who spoke very passionately to the council. What they said was so strong the council were forced to withdraw their plans.

“Some people, particularly those with Alzheimer’s, need the care homes because if they have to go somewhere they aren’t familiar with it could be very distressing for them.”

However Clr Jones said they will continue to develop alternative forms of respite care between now and December 2015.

“Going forward we will explore working with partners’ potential options to enhance the services both centres provide to our residents,” Clr Jones said.

“But I must emphasise that no residents would have been left without respite care in Cheshire East.

“We will continue with our plans to block-book beds in the independent sector and can reassure all residents that respite care will be available throughout the borough to meet their assessed needs.”

Clr Flude welcomed the council’s decision but said: “It’s great news but there is a lot of work to be done between now and next December to make sure we keep the homes open for good.

“I’m not making a political statement, this is bigger than politics. We simply have to get the care system right.”