Councillors have vowed to oppose any plans to change a care home which was shut suddenly last month due to water problems.

A petition to save Blackburn Lodge in Sheerness has almost met its goal of 2,000 signatures.

Thousands of people pledged their support to reopen it as soon as possible after it was closed by Kent County Council (KCC) last month.

The Broadway site had 13 elderly and vulnerable residents who were moved elsewhere in the county and was also used by around 50 people for daytime activities.

KCC said it discovered high concentrations of iron were found in its water supply and triggered an emergency closure.

Since then, angered family members, councillors and others living on the Island have shown their support through protests outside the home and an online petition.

The petition, which has 1,982 signatures, is just 18 more away from its goal as of Tuesday evening and was set up by Cllr Dooley Wooster (Lab).

She said: “The home needs to be reopened and the 13 residents – all over 80 – returned to their home with repairs being made.

“KCC hasn’t entered into any public consultation with regards to the care home’s future which puts adult social care provision in Swale at risk and that is not acceptable under any circumstances.

“The residents had no idea the closure was going to happen or that they were going to be moved at least an hour sometimes more away from their relatives, partners, and friends.

“This is not care and seems to be an easy way for KCC to fill their budget hole at the expense of some of the most vulnerable people in one of the most deprived areas in the country.”

Cllr Wooster emailed other Swale councillors for their support.

She received backing from Queenborough and Halfway representative Mike Whiting (Con), who said he and others would oppose any plans for the care home if a suitable replacement wasn’t provided.

He continued: “I spoke with KCC cabinet member Dan Watkins to discuss the future of Blackburn Lodge elderly care home and day centre. I raised again with Dan my long-standing view that the previous decision to close Blackburn Lodge taken by his predecessor Graham Gibbens in 2016, is unsound as it is out of date. He has now agreed with me and has said KCC will re-consult in the New Year. I welcome that.”

Cllr Whiting says he asked if the home could be reopened in the meantime while a consultation takes place but was told the whole water system “is contaminated and needs replacing”.

The Tory councillor added: “I also made clear to him that I, along with other councillors and our MP, will continue to oppose any plan that may emerge, as part of any new consultation, to permanently close Blackburn Lodge unless suitable alternative residential and day care provision has been provided in advance on Sheppey for local families to access.”

You can sign the petition at www.tinyurl.com/blackburnlodge.