MADAM, Via a short piece in the Gazette, we learn of the – since confirmed – closure of the Chestnuts.
It is most disgraceful that Herefordshire Council went ahead and issued a statement to the press before the managment and Trustees of the Chestnuts had had an opportunity of directly informing residents, relatives and respective carers of this extremely upsetting news.
It would appear that, by their statement, namely, 'Herefordshire Council currently has 14 residents at the Chestnuts care home, located near Ross-on-Wye', those 14 residents – presumably fully Council funded – are the only ones the Council has concerns for. No mention of the many self-funded residents who live there. What happens to them and to the wonderful staff?
As the Chestnuts is a very good charitable organisation, I would have thought that it comes very much within the sphere of Mr Cameron's 'Big Society'. So implementation of what National and local government policies have contributed towards the decision by the Trustees for closure of the home? It seems that Herefordshire Council are trying to distance themselves from any blame. I think we should be told.
Mr Donald Davies,
Ross