An ELDERLY woman in her 90s has urged a council to keep its only care home.

 

Nettie Hall handed in a petition to East Renfrewshire Council officials, signed by more than 1,600 people, urging the local authority not to sell Bonnyton Care Home to the private sector.

Nettie, lived across the road from the home for some 60 years before becoming a resident herself.

The council, which is charged with £20mllion of cuts, is due to make a decision on the home's future on February 12.

The campaigners' fight has been backed by Glasgow comedian Kevin Bridges, who tweeted his support.

Allan Smillie, who mother is a resident, said: "This is the culmination of our efforts to stop East Renfrewshire Council selling Bonnyton Care Home, their only home, to the private or third sectors.

"We have as a group had a number of meetings with executives of the Health and Community Care Department of ERC who have been very receptive to a number of our proposals and suggestions, we believe, would make Bonnyton Care Home a valuable and viable asset to the council.

"The staff many of whom have been there for 10,20 and in some cases 30 years make this home a very special place for its residents.

"My mother Jessie Smillie will be 98 this year and is very happy in Bonnyton she is one of 28 residents and we don't want their situation to change.

"This is a subject that spans the political divide we have received notes of support from Jim Murphy MSP and Jackson Carlaw MSP."