AN online petition protesting at plans by the Abbeyfield Society to close two Wellington residential homes has attracted more than 1,000 supporters.

The charity said it was no longer viable to keep running the supported living flats for elderly people in Ivy House and The Old Vicarage.

It said a would-be new owner pulled out of a deal for the properties at the last moment, leaving an open market sale as the only option.

The petition was started by Kim Clough, who said: “The residents love their homes and presumed this was their forever home and do not want to move away from their friends and family.

“Please help us all by sparing a minute of your precious time to sign our petition to keep these two homes up and running.

“We all want to stay in our lovely flats we call home.”

One person who signed the petition, former health care assistant Katie Jordan, said: “I saw first hand what a place like Ivy House does for the mental wellbeing of the residents living there.

“This is not just about housing, this is about being part of a community and looking out for each other. 

“These housing communities need to remain, not only do they support the elderly, they also provide employment for local residents.

“We are already short of housing.”

Another signatory, Melanie Clough, said: “We need to protect our residential homes.

“People in power only see the financial cost.

“They do not understand the human cost of closing down people’s homes.

“Residential homes do not just provide somewhere safe to live, they are your family and friends and all the residents need safety and security.”

Tom Morrell said having to move would be ‘devastating’ for the elderly residents in the two housing schemes.

Jeanette O’Connor said it wold be ‘such a bad and unforgivable thing to do’ because sheltered housing was needed by people.

Adding her name to the petition, Valerie Moody said: “I sadly saw what happened to my mum after she had to move and do not want to see this happen to anyone else.”