Published at 11:09, Thursday, 19 April 2012

THE fight goes on at Woodlands care home in Distington. Cumbria County Council’s decision last week to close the home may have been a blow to the residents, their families and the staff – although it was not altogether unexpected – but Woodlands Care and Support Group has since vowed that the announcement will not be the death-knell for the facility.

The group feels it has not had a fair shake during the consultation process and is adamant that the “fight goes on”.

It won’t be an easy fight to win, however. The closure process has already started, with new admissions being blocked and meetings set up next week to discuss what happens next.

However, the protest group only has to look at the case of Captain Shaw’s in Bootle for an example of what can be achieved against all the odds. Cumbria’s smallest school appeared to be living on borrowed time when it was given a notice of closure in January.

However (ironically in the same meeting as the Woodlands decision), councillors made a U-turn and ruled that Cpt Shaw’s will stay open. So as Copeland celebrates one victory for people power, what chance of another at Woodlands?

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk