UNION representatives say about 35 staff will lose their jobs when Greenways Care Home closes.

Regional officer for Unison, Kumar Sandy, said he had been contacted by the parent company of the home in St Fillan Road, Colchester.

“The key issue is these are people who are being given contracts to run care homes in other part of the county,” he said. “They are building a home in Chigwell and another in Saffron Walden, but these staff members who work in Colchester are going to lose their jobs.

“These people have mortgages and families and lives to live.”

He said the commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) carried out an inspection of the home in September and in its report asked for improvements to be made.

“Social services then did an inspection and gave them seven days notice to improve, which runs out on Sunday,” said Mr Sandy.

He said Unison was asking for negotiations to take place concerning the staff members and for “remuneration” and financial reimbursement.

He also expressed concern for the residents who were having to be moved.

“Some of these people have lived there for many, many years. In many circumstances they are very elderly and very poorly and having to move at this stage will be very upsetting.”

Ward Councillor Paul Smith said his immediate concern was for the residents, but he added there was a wider concern about what would happen to the building if it ceased to be used as a residential home.

“It is right in the middle of a residential area. Will it be converted, will it be sold off to developers?”

MP Bob Russell has written to the cCounty council calling for an urgent investigation of the situation.

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