More Cheshire East councillors have lent their support to the campaign to keep Hollins View care home open.

The Express launched its ‘Hand off Hollins View’ campaign last month amid fears the centre could close.

Those concerns were sparked after the council announced it planned to change care services provision in the town.

Those plans mean respite care will no longer be provided at Hollins View for dementia patients and vulnerable adults as the council transfer the service to the independent sector – meaning it will be provided privately and through voluntary services.

A number of councillors have backed our campaign to keep Hollins View open, and ensure respite services remain at the home, on Clarke Terrace, Macclesfield.

We contacted all 21 Cheshire East councillors from Macclesfield and its surrounding areas to ask whether they were supporting the campaign.

  • Of the 13 councillors who responded, nine said they were in support of making sure Hollins View remains open.

They are: Councillors Laura Jeuda (Lab), Ken Edwards (Lab), Brendan Murphy (Ind), Lloyd Roberts (Ind), Alift-Harewood (Lab), David Neilson (Lib Dem), Damien Druce (Con), Steve Carter (Lab) and Janet Jackson (Lab).

Coun Harewood, who is also a nurse at a care home and used the respite care service at Hollins View herself after breaking four ribs, said: “It is a vital local asset that needs to continue to grow.

“It has proven its worth over the years with positive comments about the standard of care there from a wide section of residents in Macclesfield and beyond.

“We need to make sure it remains open.”

  • Sutton Coun Hilda Gaddum (Con) said she could not respond to our request as she is currently serving the county as deputy mayor, an apolitical role.
  • the other three councillors that responded all refused to say whether they were supporting the campaign or not.

Instead, councillors Carolyn Andrew, Louise Brown and Jos Saunders (all Conservative) said they supported increasing the local availability of respite care services for residents in the town.

Coun Jos Saunders said: “This review is not about cuts and I am certainly not in favour of cuts to respite services.

“This review is about ensuring that the people of Macclesfield receive good quality local respite care.

“It is expected that by 2020 another one third of local people will need to access the service.

“It is therefore imperative that we ensure that we meet that demand and that our carers can access good quality when they need it.

“The most important fact in respect of respite care is to ensure that our local people can access good quality local care. I am fully committed to that.”

  • The other seven councillors did not respond to The Express’ request for their views.

They are: Councillors Paul Findlow, Martin Hardy, Philip Hoyland, Howard Murray, Peter Hayes, Roger West and Lesley Smetham (all Conservative)

  • Jean Bennett, whose 95-year-old father uses the respite service at Hollins View, said it was important that councillors made clear where they stand on the issue.

She said: “This is such an important issue for residents and they should be able to say one way or the other. They are elected by the people to represent the community and it is a yes or no matter, either they want to see it remain open or not.”