Ref. 27978-29A PRIVATE nursing home, to be built in Stratton, has been welcomed as the way forward to care for the borough's elderly.

Derby-based Methodist Homes For The Aged has been granted permission to build a new 60-bed care home on the site of an existing one at Kingsdown Lodge, in Kingsdown Road, Stratton.

Graham Pearson, Swindon Council's assistant director for adult services, said: "The council's Social Services department welcomes any improvement in the provision for older people particularly for modern care homes to be established in the Swindon area.

"Both the hospital and ourselves desperately need more space in care homes and occasionally have to place people outside the Swindon area.

"Therefore, if we can accommodate people in the town it's all the better.

"What we're looking for is purpose-built modern homes and we want to work in partnership with the private sector this is a nationally recognised association and the more places in the borough the better for the people who live there and their relatives."

There are currently 30 privately-run care homes in Swindon, but on Wednesday night the council's decision-making cabinet admitted it will struggle to bring its own homes in line with tough national care standard guidelines.

And it decided to reduce the number of homes it runs from six to four.

A decision on which two of Fessey House, in Haydon Wick, Langton House, in Wroughton, Lease Hill, in Moredon, Pinetrees, in Pinehurst, Whitbourne House, in Park South, and Wick House, in Liden, will close will be made before February next year.

Jemima Milton (Con, Wroughton and Chiseldon) and the council's lead member for social services, said: "These homes will never meet the standards and the council has known for more than two years this needed sorting out."

Giles Sheldrick