WELLINGTON Town Council has agreed to do all it can to prevent the Old Vicarage and Ivy House independent living complexes from closing, even if it means the council taking ownership of them in the future.

Elderly residents at the Old Vicarage, in High Street, and Ivy House, in Corams Lane, have been left shocked, upset and concerned that Abbeyfield – a national charity which runs the two properties – is carrying out a review of its services and has already said that closure is a distinct possibility.

Worried residents and family members attended the town council’s monthly meeting on Monday (June 5) to share their concerns that they could soon be left with nowhere to live.

But councillors were quick to show their support for them and said they would do all they could.

Cllr Andrew Govier said: “I have taken a keen interest in this news and I am surprised that Abbeyfield have put the deal on the table without having talks. Closure would be the last port of call.

“What I have been pressing for is a meeting between the council and Abbeyfield and pave a way forward. I have asked Abbeyfield to take closure off the table.

“As a council, we should do all we can to keep both these homes open.”

Cllr Govier suggested that the council should actually think about taking the homes over if nobody else came forward.

“The council should consider, if nobody takes over the homes, about us actually looking to do so,” he said.

“If it is financially viable to do it then Wellington Town Council should look at buying them and taking them over.”

Cllr Mike McGuffie said he thought it would be the wrong decision if Abbeyfield actually closed the two homes.

“The closure of these homes would have to be the very last resort,” he said.

“I cannot see any sense in closing them as they have people on waiting lists wanting to move in - if we can get Abbeyfield to review their position, all well and good.”

Cllr Nancy Powell-Brace said: “I absolutely support what Cllr Govier has proposed and that we do what we can.

“We as a council do not sit back and wait for things to go wrong, we do something about it.

“We will be making a stand against these massive corporations that do not understand our residents.”

Cllr John Thorne said the whole thing had been 'shockingly handled' by Abbeyfield and that it had been 'bull at a gate' in saying that closure was on the cards.

“They are looking at a financial meltdown and that is what is driving this, but they have gone about it so very badly,” he added. “I am not saying we can take over this, but we should definitely look at it to see what could be done.

“We need to be speaking to Abbeyfield as quickly as possible.”

The Mayor, Cllr Marcus Barr, told people in the audience that the council would 'explore every avenue' to see what could be done to keep the Old Vicarage and Ivy House open for the residents of Wellington.

An Abbeyfield spokesperson said: “As part of a wide-reaching consultation process, we are holding conversations and meetings with a variety of stakeholders to explore potential opportunities and proposals.

“Our main priority continues to be supporting all our residents throughout this process.”