HOPES of triggering a council debate over the controversial closure of three Cheshire West care homes have been dashed.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet unanimously backed a shake-up of care services in July, which included the closure of Leftwich Green in Northwich, Sutton Beeches in Ellesmere Port and Curzon House in Saltney.

The decision put 98 staff at risk of redundancy and led to protests and fierce opposition from unions, carers, service users and their families.

But the council said the new model would offer a ‘wider range of services’, promote greater choice and flexibility for service users.

Following the decision, the UNISON union launched a petition calling on residents to voice their opposition with the hope of reaching 3,500 signatures – a number which would trigger a debate at a meeting of Full Council.

The petition stated: “We, the undersigned, oppose the proposal by Cheshire West and Chester Council to close Sutton Beeches, Curzon House and Leftwich Green Respite Care Centres.

"We call on the council to reverse their closure decision and undertake a full review of local respite care provision which should be subject to a full public consultation. We believe there is so much these care centres can offer the local community.”

But despite attracting 3,665 signatures - 165 more than was normally needed to trigger a debate - the petition was dismissed by Cheshire West and Chester, which said that the issue had already gone through the official decision-making process.

In a recent rejection letter published online, the council said: “The petition refers to a specific decision which followed the appropriate decision-making process, views were taken, scrutiny was involved and the call in period for cabinet decisions applied.

“Challenge to the decision can only be by way of Judicial Review at this stage.”

It added: “There is another element to the petition which requests a review of local respite care provision.

“There is no provision to partially accept a petition, I can confirm however this aspect is already underway.”