Care Home Disruption

Elderly people will be relocated from one of Brentwood's biggest care homes. The 40-bed Winifred Dell House, in Warley, will be demolished and rebuilt with 77 rooms.

Brentwood Council's planning committee gave Excelcare the go-ahead for its scheme on Tuesday, despite concerns for residents. Objectors to the plan had presented a 340-sig-nature petition during a demonstration at the end of March.

Essex County Council - which sold the home to Excelcare - vowed to 'work closely with the owners and residents to ensure residents are relocated in suitable alternative accommodation for the duration of the works'.

Brentwood Council's planning committee voted 10 to four to approve the scheme, although Lib Dems, Karen Chilvers and Derek Hardy, and Tory ward members, Jan Pound and Billy Lloyd, voted against.

David Kendall, leader of the Lib Dems at Brentwood Council, said the plans had not taken the disruption to residents into consideration. He said: "There are no clear plans about what is to happen to residents while these works are carried out. They should be treated with dignity and respect with their future a primary concern. They are terrified of the future."

Excelcare said a 'dedicated team of professionals' will be working work with residents.

A spokesman said: "Residents must be supported during and after transfer by people they know and trust."