Public consultation to begin over future of two Cumbrian care homes
A public consultation is set to begin over the future of two residential care homes in Cumbria, after councillors agreed to move the process forward. The homes involved are Applethwaite Green Care Home in Windermere and Grisedale Croft Care Home in Alston.
Westmorland and Furness Council says no final decision has been made yet. Instead, it will now ask residents, families, staff and the wider public for their views before any future decision is taken.
Why the homes are being reviewed
The council says both homes face serious challenges. These include buildings that no longer meet modern care and regulatory standards, falling occupancy levels, workforce pressures and high running costs.
That means the review is not just about money. It is also about whether the homes are still able to meet the needs of residents in the way the council wants going forward. This is an inference from the council’s stated reasons for launching the consultation.
Which homes are affected
The two homes under review are:
- Applethwaite Green Care Home, Windermere
- Grisedale Croft Care Home, Alston
For local communities, that is likely to make this a highly sensitive issue. Care homes are not just buildings. For residents and families, they are places tied closely to care, routine and stability.
What the council has decided
Cabinet has agreed to begin a formal public consultation on the future of both homes. That means the council has not voted to close them at this stage. It has voted to start the next step in the process.
That distinction matters. The council has stressed that this is still a consultation, not a final decision. Residents and staff will continue to be supported while the process takes place.
Why this is likely to cause concern
Even without a final closure decision, news like this is always likely to worry families, residents and staff.
For families, the fear will be what happens next if the review ends with major changes. For staff, there may be uncertainty about jobs and the future of the homes. And for local communities, there may be concern about whether older people will still be able to access care close to where they live.
That is especially important in places like Windermere and Alston, where the loss of a local care home could have a wider impact on families and support networks. This is an inference based on the locations and the nature of residential care provision.
What happens next
The next step is for the consultation to begin, giving people the chance to share their views on the future of the two homes. The council says this will help it meet its legal duties and make informed decisions later on.
For now, the key point is that the future of Applethwaite Green and Grisedale Croft is under review, but no final decision has yet been made.
