Andrea Leadsom Writes to Council Leader on Ridgway House

The WNC Cabinet is meeting tonight to discuss the future of Ridgway House.

I have written to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Jonathan Nunn, to ask that any decision be postponed until residents have had a chance to properly express their views on this matter, as well as to seek a commitment that if residents are moved, none will be moved outside of Towcester against their wishes.

You can still sign my petition to keep Ridgway House open here: www.andrealeadsom.com/ridgway

Full text of the letter:

Thank you for taking the time last Friday to discuss the closure of Ridgway House Care Home in Towcester with me. As you are well aware, the residents of Towcester are deeply concerned about the looming possibility of such a valued community asset shutting down, forcing residents to leave their home.

At the time of writing this letter, the petition to Save Ridgway House, active for less than a week, has garnered 335 signatures—nearly double the responses received in the West Northamptonshire consultation.

I am aware that tonight the Cabinet will convene to vote on the recommendation to close Ridgway House. I would once again appreciate the decision being postponed until the subsequent Cabinet meeting, affording Towcester residents the opportunity to express the depth of their sentiments. As you and I discussed, the question of the cost to upgrade either just the ground floor, or both floors, needs to be pitched against the huge value of retaining a council-owned home that can provide long-term security to vulnerable elderly residents. West Northamptonshire Council is almost entirely reliant on private sector providers, and as we both know, there is no real security of tenure for the long-term. We should avoid becoming totally dependent on private care homes.

If the decision to close the care home proceeds, I request assurances from West Northamptonshire Council that no resident will be forcibly relocated outside of Towcester. Furthermore, I request assurances that those relocated to an alternative care home in Towcester will be guaranteed stability, free from the prospect of being moved again in the future.

Since initiating the petition to Save Ridgway House, I have been profoundly moved by conversations with residents and individuals with loved ones in the home. It is evident that some residents and their families are adamant about not wanting to leave Towcester. Therefore, it is imperative that West Northamptonshire Council provides assurances to those affected during this exceedingly challenging time for them.