Millions of pounds used on housing and training the county's handicapped residents will in future be spent on providing the facilities in Essex, county council chiefs have pledged.

Previously residents were sent - sometimes for life - to live in Cornwall, Kent, Suffolk and other counties where special facilities are available.

Cllr Derek Robinson, political head of Essex care services, told the council's inner cabinet that more than 250 people with learning difficulties are having to live in special facilities outside Essex - at a cost of as much as £200,000 a year.

Some have been living outside the county for as long as 33 years, he said.

But under the new Government White Paper 'Valuing People' a supporting people initiative could provide the cash to establish specialist facilities in the county itself.

Although members stressed there was no intention of making people who were long settled and happy move back to Essex, some however would welcome a return after extensive assessment and the drawing up of detailed care plans, infrastructure and staffing resources.

The committee decided that in future unless there were overwhelming professional and personal choice considerations all people with learning difficulties would stay in Essex.

The cases of those residents living outside the county will be urgently reviewed and if they want to, and it is appropriate and legal, they should come back to the county as soon as possible.

Published Wednesday, February 20, 2002