A couple who claimed Herefordshire Council staff forced residents out of their Ross-on-Wye care home as they wanted to close it down have lost their bid for £1million in damages and have to pay damages to the Council.

Parvin Menon, 68, and his wife, Madhu Menon, 61, run Autumn Days care home, formally known as Rosedale Residential Home, in Ashfield Crescent.

On Thursday, January 25th Mr Justice Mitting delivered a judgement in Herefordshire Council’s favour.

The judge recognised and vindicated the legitimate safeguarding concerns the council had at that time and the subsequent actions it took to address them. He also stated that “the decisions made by the [council] staff were lawful”.

The council re-commenced placing residents at the Autumn Days care home in 2012, following satisfactory improvements at the home, and continues to do so today.

The judge agreed that the council would be awarded costs, with an initial £150,000 being payable within two months.

The council is pleased with the judgement; it takes the safeguarding of all vulnerable children and adults in its care extremely seriously and as such has no reservations about taking appropriate action within its legal capabilities to ensure their continued protection.