OLYMPIC and world champion athlete Fatima Whitbread has joined the chorus of disapproval over the planned closure of the Whitecroft Care Home on Stanford Road close to Orsett.

The facility, run by Runwood Homes, is home to 51 elderly residents – a significant number who have been there for many years – and the community that has grown over decades will be dispersed because of the building of the Lower Thames Crossing.

Thurrock Nub News told the story of the home's closure yesterday (Tuesday, 31 March) ahead of a meeting today of residents, their families and staff.

One of those present at the meeting was top sportswoman and TV celebrity Ms Whitbread. Her mother Margaret, is a long time resident at Whitecroft. Both were honoured by Thurrock Council last year when they were presented with Freedom of the Borough of Thurrock for their efforts in representing the local community. The awards ceremony took place at the Whitecroft.

The decision – and more pertinently the timeline behind it – to shut down has angered Fatima, who has delivered a damning verdict on National Highways, contractors Balfour Beatty and Runwood Homes, accusing them of being contemptuous, selfish and greedy, while Thurrock Council gets a roasting for failing to act as a safeguarding authority.

Residents and families gathered to discuss the home's future

The Whitecroft's future has been under discussion for some time after the route of the planned Lower Thames Crossing was selected. It will be constructed in very close proximity to the home and no workable solution for it to continue has been able to be found, with National Highways now committed to buying the property. It is believed it will be used by Balfour Beattie as offices during the construction process.

Ms Whitbread told Thurrock Nub News she was angry and frustrated by the lack of consultation, concern for residents' welfare and recognition of the upheaval it will cause to their lives.

advertisement

She said: "This has been a done deal since July last year, there has been plenty of time to make arrangements for a better solution and to find a place where the Whitecroft community could be moved. That includes building a new purpose-built home – there's plenty of money being shared out to make that happen.

"They could have built a new place where people could be carefully transitioned across. A replacement residential facility should have been put in place so that people could be relocated with dignity and stability.

"Now we have a scramble in a short timescale of six months. The residents are left concerned, disturbed and very upset and this should not be the case.

"This is not the fault of the staff at the Whitecroft, they have been wonderful – and they are now set to lose their jobs as well. This is absolutely shocking behaviour. It's selfish, greedy and all comes down to money – not people's dignity.

"Elderly residents are now feeling distressed and it is bound to take a toll on their health.

"Who is going to be accountable for any deaths this may cause?

Mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick and council leader Lynn Worrall were at the Whitecroft last year to present Freedom of the Borough awards to Maggie and Fatima Whitbread.

"The council has not come out of this well. When I was at the Whitecroft to receive the awards with my mother from the council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall and the mayor, Cllr Sue Shinnick, they told us the future security of life at the home was assured. Cllr Worrall told me they wouldn't allow it to happen and residents needn't worry.

"What's happened to that promise? Where is the duty of care and safeguarding the council should take responsibility for?

"This is not just a building — this is people's lives. You cannot create a gap in care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society and expect there to be no consequences. This is about dignity, stability, and duty of care.

"Care must come before convenience. If more time is needed to build a new home, then that is what must happen. Residents should not be forced to carry the risk."

Local councillor Gary Byrbe was among visitors to Whitecroft today the the meeting and discussed future options with Fatima Whitbread.

At the meeting concerns were listed and agreed:-

- The lack of transparency around decision-making timelines

- Continued admissions despite knowledge of potential closure

- The absence of a guaranteed, ready replacement facility

Families and residents are now calling for:

-         A new care home to be built and operational before any closure

-         Full transparency from Runwood Homes  

-         Greater local authority intervention to uphold safeguarding responsibilities