ANOTHER sheltered housing scheme is to close, it has been revealed.

Colchester Council has announced it is to close Maytree Court sheltered housing scheme in Tiptree saying it does not provide suitable accommodation for its residents.

The 22 residents at Maytree Court have bedsits with shared bathing and laundry facilities.

The oldest resident at the sheltered housing scheme is 93 and one resident has lived there for 18 years.

The residents have all been informed of the decision and will be moved to new homes or sheltered housing complexes over the next 18 months.

Tina Bourne (Lab), Colchester Council's portfolio holder for housing and public protection, said: “We have carefully considered all options for Maytree Court as part of the Sheltered Housing Review.

"In this day and age it’s unacceptable to expect elderly residents to live in bedsit accommodation and have shared bathing facilities.

"Despite Government cuts, at Colchester Council we’re committed to improving the homes of our elderly residents."

Mrs Bourne added: "Our priority is to help these residents find new and quality homes and to make that process as smooth as possible for them through thorough and careful support."

Karen Loweman, director of housing at the council's management company, Colchester Borough Homes, added: "We will offer our full support and advice to residents through what we understand will be a difficult time.

"Our care for them during this time of change will include arranging viewings of other sheltered schemes and with information and advice to make the move as easy as possible."

The council came under fire after it decided to close two Colchester sheltered housing complexes - Joyce Brooks House and Abbeygate House - because they did not meet the so-called Colchester standard.

The council argued residents should have their own en-suite bathrooms but residents at Joyce Brooks House, in Oxford Road, Colchester, said their friendships were more important than mod cons.

They organised a petition of more than 5,000 signatures calling on the council to reconsider.

However, the closure went ahead although Colchester Council ensured all residents who wanted to stay together were moved to the same home.

Staff from Colchester Council are holding one-to-one meetings with the residents of Maytree Court and their families to explain what happens next.

A statement from the council said residents would be entitled to a home loss compensation payment of £4,900 in recognition of the "upset and distress" caused to residents who have to move permanently from their home.

The council will also provide a discretionary payment of up to £1,000 to help with the cost of moving.

The decision to close Maytree Court is part of Colchester Council's review of its sheltered housing stock.

The council expects to sell off Maytree Court once residents have left.

Money raised will go back into the council's housing revenue account to fund improvements to council homes.

The council has spent millions of pounds renovating Worsnop House and Enoch House in Colchester to bring them up to standard, getting rid of bedsits and creating new eco-friendly flats.