The fate of Sandwich's only care home will be learnt today as owners Kent County Council lean towards selling the site and moving all residents to Margate.

The latest proposal to transfer service users from Wayfarers to the more modern and currently partly vacant Westbrook House, 13-miles away, was put forward by staff during a consultation.

KCC councillor Sue Chandler told KentOnline she will support the alternative motion in this morning's meeting would will see residents kept together, if they wish, and jobs saved.

But independent Cllr Paul Carter says the town has been "sold up the river" as it would be left without a single residential home for its elderly people.

He said: "This will be a sad day for Sandwich, and shows how badly we are served by KCC.

"This latest development continues KCC's determination to sell off Wayfarers to the highest bidder and allow the building of new homes on the land.

"This shows that KCC have no long term concern for the elderly in Sandwich at all.

"Cllr Sue Chandler has sold us all up the river by not standing up for the elderly in the town and stating how much this facility means to the town's people."

Linda Bushell whose 93-year-old mother Barbara Bushell has lived at Wayfarers since September 2017, said she has also asked the councillor to keep the 33-bed unit open.

She said: "My extended family and many friends have put in the strongest objections during the consultation period. Many have asked Sue Chandler to vote against closing Wayfarers."

But in a document, KCC writes that the move to the unused units at Westbrook House offers “a number of advantages and opportunities”.

The authority describe it to have modern, spacious and well-equipped facilities with provision for clients with dementia, reablement, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, day care services and meals.

Garlinge GP surgery is also located within the grounds.

Defending her position, Cllr Chandler says while no decision has been made, she is working hard to ensure new housing with care provision is in place to complement existing services for the elderly like the Age Concern Centre.

She said: “For a number of residents at Wayfarers, Margate is their original home. Only two people, I understand, originally came from around Sandwich.

“From talks with many residents in Sandwich I understand that expectations and aspirations for a lot of people have changed and most will want to live independently in their own homes where possible.

“I’m working very hard towards a provision of housing with care in Sandwich which provides independent living for residents but with the option of care should they need it.

“We shouldn’t forget that alongside KCC housing with care and care in people’s own homes, there’s excellent provision of care for elderly people in Sandwich already such as Age Concern and the Alms House providers.

“Care for the elderly should not be a one size fits all.”

KCC launched its consultation on the future of Wayfarers in May admitting its preferred option was to close the 33-bed setting, which was built in 1983.

The authority states it would also explore options for developing older people’s accommodation preferably in the Sandwich area, in the form of housing with care.

It followed two failed attempts to sell the home as a going concern.

The report recommends that if a decision to close Wayfarers is approved, KCC will seek to find a buyer for the building and land.

KCC’s Adult Social Care cabinet committee will be at 10am on Friday and the meeting will be available to view via webcast at democracy.kent.gov.uk

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