AN 83-YEAR-OLD former headteacher has been joined by his family in making a last stand against the closure of a council-run care home.

Don Robson, the only remaining resident at Newtown House, in Stanhope, County Durham, was accompanied by daughter-in-law Michelle and son Steve along with other family members in what they described as a “peaceful occupation”.

Michelle Robson said she was appalled at the “beyond disgraceful” decision to close the facility and said her father was being abandoned.

The protest marked the bitter denouement of a saga which began in October last year when Durham County Council announced a proposal to consult over the possible closure of its remaining five care homes, saving £4m in the process.

Councillors were jeered at a meeting in April when they agreed to shut Cheveley House, in Belmont, Feryemount in Ferryhill, Grampian House in Peterlee, Mendip House in Chester-le-Street and Newtown House.

This was against the wishes of 80 per cent of the 700 people who responded to the consultation.

Critics said the council had driven through the closure programme as a “money saving exercise”.

Don Robson, a former headteacher at Woodham Burn Junior School, in Newton Aycliffe, said: “[The] council don’t care about what happens to me, or the other residents.

“Newtown House is my home and I’m happy here. I won’t leave until they force me out.”

It is understood two people have already died since residents began moving out of Newtown House, which last year received a glowing report from regulator the Care Quality Commission.

Michelle Robson said: “Money should be spent on caring for the elderly, not taken away. They deserve better.”

Independent County Councillor John Shuttleworth, whose 83-year-old mother Patricia is a previous resident at Newtown House, said: “I said at the very start people would die and that has happened.

“My mother moved a month yesterday and has gone downhill in a big way. I would be most surprised if she sees Christmas.”

Durham County Council said the cost of in-house residential care was more than £22,000 per resident per year higher than that in the independent sector and the homes needed significant capital investment.

Lesley Jeavons, its head of adult care, said it had been working with Don Robson’s family for two months to support them in finding alternative accommodation.

She said: “While we have the greatest of empathy with the concerns raised, it is simply not possible in the current financial environment to continue to provide in-house residential care."