Plan to sell off Bexhill old folks home

The deal, still under negotiation, has been hailed by county leaders as offering a better deal for old people.

Lead cabinet member Cllr Keith Glazier says that if the county can pull off the deal with Rother Homes and Bexhill and Rother Primary Care Trust a better standard of care can be offered to old people and the money re-invested in social services provision.

Thornwood was opened 20 years ago, the product of an 858,000 joint venture in care for the elderly between the county and Rother council.

The county has the freehold.

Rother Homes took over the district's 23 sheltered housing flats there following the transfer of Rother's housing stock to the social housing landlord.

The county council currently has 16 beds there. Eight are used for respite care and eight for its Living At Home rehabilitation scheme

At present, the day centre at Thornwood caters for 47 people.